A "Baby Scoop Era" Adoption Story

In Part One of this two-part series on Voices of Adoption, host Donna Pope speaks with Lorah Gerald, known as "The Adopted Chameleon," whose baby scoop era story reveals how four million families were separated by societal shame between 1945-1972.

Historical Trauma

Lorah's father served his country overseas while that same country violated his parental rights by never informing him of her birth. Her capable mother was deemed unfit simply for being unwed, reflecting systematic practices that separated families based on shame rather than child welfare. This historical context illuminates how past adoption practices continue to impact families today.

Electric Connection

At 53, Lorah experienced what she describes as an "electric shock" when first touching her biological sisters - a physical and emotional jolt that unleashed decades of suppressed grief, joy, and recognition. The reunion revealed shared mannerisms and synchronicities that validated the deep energetic bonds that transcend physical separation.

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