We celebrated BMRT 5th Anniversary at the 2026 National Council for Adoption Conference in Washington, Dc.

After 5 emotional, powerful impactful years talking to Birth/First/Natural Mothers sharing their stories has been a Healing Place of Grace. Some women have told ‘ their secret after 20, 30, 40, 50 years. Thank you for trusting me with your story .

We had the opportunity to meet fellow advocates for unsealing OBC , Rebecca in the Fight and Win in Virginia this year after many years. YES, Virginia is now pen effective July 1, 2026, for adult adoptees to receive their original birth certificate ( OBC) .

We talked about “ THEY” spoke for moms not wanting to have OBC because of the shame and forgetting about their child. We think of our children every day in one way or another just like parents who raised their children.

Rebecca talked about her journey as an adoptee and a birth/first/natural mother. She shares her unique perspective of navigating life and is now serving the adoption community as a social worker.

We talked about our experience at the NCFA and hearing comments that were somewhat disturbing at the same time knowing that our voices needed to be hard in these rooms

I spoke openly in a full ballroom that “ GOTCHA “ day celebration for adoptive family is “ LOSTYOU Day grief for first/birth/natural families .

There was an audible ‘GASP in the room . Maybe someone realized this truth for the first time . Let’s hope it did. .

Rebecca shared powerful words of “it is not the responsibility of birth/first/natural mother to heal the trauma of an adoptive family .

Adoption must ALWAYS be about the child..

The REAL Talk of this episode

“Everyone has to Do their Work to Heal “