My story begins in the fall of 2007 when I rediscover a shoebox in my closet. It lead me back to the ‘70s, my first love and the baby I surrendered to adoption in 1978. What I uncovered, totally transformed my life.

My first love and I marry after finding one another after 27 years, search and find our daughter on Father's Day 2008 and she and her children come to live with us and we begin to heal our broken family. The next ten years would prove to be challenging and heartbreaking, as we all come to terms with our loss. In 2017 our story made global news when we legally adopted our daughter, changed her name to her birth name, and terminated her adoption. She was thirty-nine years old. (this was her birthday present!)

I harnessed my anger and decided to write my state senator, start my own not for profit., get a bill on the floor for Indiana and advocate for adoption reform. Over the course of nine years, Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records now has access to records for those born from 1941-1993. Our sister organization, Indiana Adoptee Network, our educational non-profit, outgrew its name and is now The National Association of Adoptees and Parents Inc.

Today, I am the President of the National Association of Adoptees and Parents and host a Friday night virtual event called Adoption Happy Hour where we elevate the voices of all members of the adoption constellation. Our attendance has gone global and we have an average of 60-75 every Friday night. In addition, I have co-written a children's book, Frankie and Friends Talk Adoption, and am currently working with the amazing Nancy Verrier on a parental guide for adoptive parents.


I am also the author of The ShoeBox Effect, Transforming Pain Into Fortitude and Purpose, guiding others on how to unpack loss and find acceptance and peace with the past and was recently appointed to the board of directors for Women's Writes Publishing and Author Services, dedicated to enhancing the societal status of women by providing a platform for the female voice.