Scotiaspirit
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2015
- Messages
- 209
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 11/2015
- Country
- CA
- State
- Nova Scotia
- City
- Dartmouth
I have a frustrating problem as I was adopted at birth. I have found my birth mother's side of family; and as far as neurological conditions go, I have a half sister who has MS. However, when it comes to my birth father, our province (canadian law) is not allowed or permitted to give identifying information about birth mothers or birth fathers due to the law. Even when it comes to serious disease, the province will not unseal the identifying information. I do know that based on non identifying information, that I have one half brother and two half sisters on my birth father's side of family, but without knowing how or who to contact, it is virtually impossible. I registered a number of years ago on adoption registries to see if I could get any hits. I was able to find my birth mother as I had a last name to go by and it took four years to make contact back in the late 1980s. Despite having a name of my birth father, he apparently was raised by his grandmother and they have all since been deceased and all attempts to look for him have hit dead ends.
In trying to see if there is a family / genetic link as per my paternal side, will likely be impossible to get such information.
Telling kids.....about roughly a 5% chance of having the gene..... my son says he does not want to know and I can understand his reasoning. Like he says, "Dad, if I knew I had a gene where someday I could be dx with ALS, he would rather not know at this juncture in his life; as if he were to get any similar symptoms like cramping, muscle weakness, shortness of breath etc.... he says he would worry and worry and does not want to go there. I respect his decision. Has anyone else here had the adoption issue come up when trying to get family link information?
Any suggestions are welcome.
Scotiaspirit
In trying to see if there is a family / genetic link as per my paternal side, will likely be impossible to get such information.
Telling kids.....about roughly a 5% chance of having the gene..... my son says he does not want to know and I can understand his reasoning. Like he says, "Dad, if I knew I had a gene where someday I could be dx with ALS, he would rather not know at this juncture in his life; as if he were to get any similar symptoms like cramping, muscle weakness, shortness of breath etc.... he says he would worry and worry and does not want to go there. I respect his decision. Has anyone else here had the adoption issue come up when trying to get family link information?
Any suggestions are welcome.
Scotiaspirit