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Foundling Tracey Yerkess had always known that she was adopted. When she was first married, aged twenty, she decided to look for her birth certificate. Her parents then sat her down and told her what they knew...  Tracey as a baby |
Her name as a baby was Jean Thomas. Tracey's parents were embarrassed that they hadn't told her, but they'd worried that she would be upset by the news. Actually it didn't worry her. She says she's always fancied being 'Princess Margaret's love child'.
As far as she's concerned, her parents are the people who brought her up, looked after her when she was sick and came to school plays.
Tracey had to convince social workers that she was stable enough to take any new information found on her birth certificate and adoption papers before she was allowed access to them.
She discovered that she was left at St Johns' Church in Stoke Newington, and that she had been left there on 19th August, 1961. So her mother had had her for three weeks before she left baby Jean (now Tracey)to be found at the church.
Tracey isn't bitter. As a mother of three herself she understands how desperate her mother must have been. Tracey tells her children that in terms of their family background they have a 'clean slate'. She finds this idea liberating.
But Tracey would still like questions answered, and would love to hear from anyone who can tell her more about her start in life.
MORE INFORMATION:
If you'd like information about support for adoptees and parents:
Norcap National Organization for Counselling Adoptees and Parents
After Adoption A support service with free helpines
If you have any information which could help Tracey, were a foundling yourself, or had to abandon a baby
we'd love to hear from you
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