Adult adoption program through Catholic Charities - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Adult adoption program through Catholic Charities

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13abc.com Zachary Pitts - email
TOLEDO, Ohio -

One organization is helping to reconnect adult adoptee's to their birth parents which sometimes creates one large family.

 Meet parents John and Amy and their two young adopted children, Drew and Katy.

 Then there's Anne. Anne is actually Katy's birth-mom, but she's just as much a part of the family. Anne gave her daughter up for adoption 8 years ago through Catholic Charities.

 Anne was still able to maintain a relationship with Katy.

" It was the best decision for myself and for Katy to be in a loving family with two parents that were established and able to take care of her." says Anne White

 Surprisingly, Anne had already been through this experience before, just on the other side of things. She was adopted.

Catholic Charities helped her find that missing piece she had been looking for.

 " I felt like I was kind of complete. I knew who she was, I met her. Then I felt like that was all that I need. Then I had my adoptive parents that were my parents. Once I met my birth mom Kathy I felt like I felt good." says White

 The search and reunion adoption program was put on halt back in 2008 when requests for reunions were decreasing, but as the number of more adult adoptee's wanting to dig back into the past grew, those at Catholic Charities say it was important to continue help families bridge those gaps.

 " Very often it can be a confusing and complicated process, but that's our job to work through those issues and challenges and to help those folks have a better since of peace." says Peg Gehring, Catholic Charities of Diocese of Toledo

John and Amy say birth parents like Anne, Are their heroes.

 " They did what was best for Katy and drew, not necessarily what was easiest for them. So we're grateful. Says Amy Schnorberger, adoptive parent."

For more information on the mission of Catholic Charities visit: 

http://www.catholiccharitiesnwo.org/Family/adoption-support.html