Sandi gave up her baby Katrina and kept her existence a secret for more than 40 years. But Katrina (renamed Jayne by her adoptive parents) decided to search for her birth mother for medical reasons...
 Sandi and Katrina (Jayne) |
Sandi Brocklehurst was 'extremely na茂ve' as a teenager. She had unprotected sex with a boy she met on holiday and got pregnant. Sandi was sent to a mother and baby home from where Katrina was adopted. The baby, who Sandi named Katrina was never mentioned again, but she never forgot her. Sandi thought she might hear something when Katrina turned 18, but there was nothing.
Then, almost 40 years on, Jayne Parkhouse (as Katrina was now known) telephoned. At first their conversation was a little guarded but they soon got to know one another. Sandi said she had no preconceived ideas about being a mother to Jayne. She hoped they would get on, but they both agreed if they didn't get on they could just walk away.
Apart from curiosity, there was another reason why Jayne had wanted to contact Sandi. In her late 30s Jayne developed excruciating back pain, and last year, by the time she turned 40, her walking had deteriorated too and she lost the feeling in her lower left leg and foot. Jayne decided it was important for her to get more information about her medical history so, with her adoptive mother's (Dorothy) agreement, she started the search for her birth mother, in the hope that she might shed some light on her genetic background. It turned out that Jayne's back problem wasn't hereditary illness.
Sandi has also met Dorothy, Jayne's adoptive mother. Dorothy was a little worried when Jayne mentioned she wanted to contact her birth mother, "apprehensive that I might lose a little bit of her". But Dorothy knew she had a strong relationship with her daughter and Jayne always said to her, "you're my mum". Sandi and Dorothy got on immediately. Sandi says they have a bond with each other because they are both grateful to each other. Sandi is grateful that Dorothy did such a lovely job bringing up Jayne.
Jayne and Sandi's experience of being reunited led them to set up a website designed to help other adoptees and birth parents. In the New Year they launch a new magazine, Genetica on adoption issues.
More Information
