The Mothers' Story Project: A Mothers' Story

I was 14 and living in Michigan when I found out I was with child. I made the decision to place my child for adoption. I never ever considered an abortion. I found an adoption agency named Easter House in Chicago IL and I called them. They were very sympathetic to my needs and seemed to be concerned with not only assisting me, but my child. When I was 6-7 months along they put me on a train and I was sent to the Florence Crittenden Home in Peoria IL to await the birth of my daughter. After she was born I changed my mind. I just couldn't do it. I knew it would be difficult but I was willing to accept the challenge. My caseworker from Easter House, Colleen Rogers, threatened to sue my parents for the thousands of dollars Easter House had spent on my care. We had no choice but to go home to Michigan without my Brandy. It's hard to explain the loss I feel. I lost a son to SIDS in 1984 and the emptiness I felt with his death is very similar to losing Brandy. But with my son I knew what happened. With Brandy, I may never know.....