Chosen, Connected, Forever: A Life Shaped by Adoption with Gene Trowbridge

In this episode of Voices of Adoption with host Donna Pope, Gene Trowbridge shares his perspective as both an adoptee and adoptive parent. His multi-generational adoption story includes a childhood sister who mysteriously vanished, a 50-year wait to search for birth family, and lessons from both sides of adoption.

Loss and Search

Gene discusses receiving his adoption papers at 16 and waiting decades before searching, eventually discovering six half-siblings and a deceased birth mother. He opens up about his daughter Amy's 17-year battle with addiction and her fear of writing the letter that could have connected her with her birth mother. His other daughter Emily now co-hosts an adoption podcast 'Hey! Am I Adopted? Podcast' with him and is pursuing foster-to-adopt herself.

Reunion and Wisdom

The episode highlights his wife Kay's reunion with her biological father, who became "Grandpa Gravy" to their daughters for 25 years. Gene advocates for adoptive parents to maintain connections with adoption agencies, sharing annual updates, and keeping doors open for biological family contact when medical or emotional needs arise.

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