Before I was born, a decision was made that would shape everything. This first episode goes back to the very beginning, before my story even started , to my mother’s. Her parents were immigrants who carried the weight of survival, sacrifice, and reputation. Her mother from England. Her father from Malta. They met in Canada, built a life, and believed deeply in honor, image, and family name. At just fifteen years old, my mother became pregnant, a secret she hid until the moment she went into labor alone in her bedroom. That was when her parents found out. And in that moment, everything changed. Her father, Vince, made a decision he believed would protect the family from disgrace: the baby would be given up for adoption. No discussion. No alternatives. One year later, she had me. This episode explores the choices made before I had a voice, the silence that surrounded them, and how one family’s fear, pride, and pain echoed forward into my life in ways I’m still uncovering. This is not just a story about teenage pregnancy or immigration,  it’s about legacy, control, survival, and the unseen consequences of decisions made in the name of “doing what’s right.” This is where it all begins.