Pam Slaton was forced to deliver the hardest news this episode of Searching For. Mary Dowd had been searching for her birth parents for over 10 years. Her and her brother had been adopted out to the same family. However, her brother was about a year older than Mary. Being that her brother was given away when was older, he was not as willing to deal with this issue as easily as Mary was. Pam was able to find out that Mary’s birth parents actually ended up getting married and Pam believed that Mary had other full-blooded siblings. Now for the bad news…Mary’s mom had passed away at the young age of 53. Pam struggled having to deliver bad news, but Mary took the information with grace. Mary commented that “I think it’s a primal thing to want to see the face of your mother”. So many take this for granted. Mary asked Pam to continue on in the search for her birth father and siblings. While dealing with the fact that he mother was no longer alive, Mary hoped that her parents had lived a wonderful life. She vulnerably mentioned that she wondered if they ever tried to get her and her brother back. My heart bled for her. Pam handled it well by merely telling her that she shouldn’t feel bad that her birth parents went on with their lives. That is would be hard for them to come into their adopted kids lives. 

So, Pam worked quickly to find her birth family…and she did! Mary not only had 1 full-blooded brother, she had 2! They were already waiting to meet her. It had been a family secret for so many years…but now they were all coming together. The father and brothers were eager to meet Mary. What a dream scenario! That same day, Mary was able to meet her birth family.

Pam was able to meet one of her brothers…who fell right into place as the little brother. Seeing them together, it was as if they had never been apart. Although their lives were turned upside-down, they seemed to be so grateful for it. Her brother spoke of how Mary reminded him of his mother…a second chance to find closure with feelings for his mother whom had been taken so quickly from him. According to the show, Mary stayed in contact with her birth family and even attended a reunion with her husband and kids.

Part of me wonders if her brother that had been adopted out would have benefited from this search. It was such a positive experience for Mary. How is he taking all this? Did he ever open up to talking to his siblings? I guess it is hard to be so vulnerable and this was a HUGE risk. Things don’t always end this wonderfully. Although his sister needed to open this wound for herself, I hope he is able to find his OWN peace through it.