Search for birth parents leads P.E.I. woman to social media

An Island woman searching for her birth parents is hoping social media will help.

Michelle Blanchard was adopted in P.E.I. in 1966, just a few weeks after her birth.

Recently she told her story to friends on Facebook, and within hours the post had been shared hundreds of times.

"Social media can do pretty amazing things these days," said Blanchard. "What have I got to lose? I don't want anything from these people, I'm just desperately curious ... if there's a whole other clan out there that I'm part of and that my daughter would be part of then I'd like to know who they are."

As an adopted person, you go through your whole life not having anyone look like you.- Michelle Blanchard

Blanchard doesn't have any details about her biological family.

In Prince Edward Island, adopted children can only access that information if their birth parents attempt to make contact.

Birth name of Crocker

She has one big clue to work with: her name given at birth was Karen Marie Crocker, so she's reaching out to anyone with that last name, or a similar last name, for possible leads.

"I hope members of the family get excited, too, and think, 'Wow, maybe she's a cousin,'" she said.

Blanchard believes her birth parents came from Nova Scotia.

She'd like to find out more about them, including any health conditions that might be hereditary.

Wants sense of belonging

But what she'd like most is to meet someone who looks like family.

"As an adopted person, you go through your whole life not having anyone look like you," she said. "I've never had anyone look like me, there's a certain sense of belonging to something larger than yourself when you have that genetic connection."

Blanchard said she's prepared for the possibility that her birth parents are either no longer living, or not interested in a relationship with her.

'Wonderful adoptive parents'

She said either way, she'll be glad she gave it a shot. "If that happens, I haven't really lost anything, I had wonderful adoptive parents."

Blanchard said if she could talk to her birth parents, she'd tell them that she understands their decision, and would simply like to meet them and say thanks for bringing her into this world.

She's already received a few leads, and hopes anyone with information that might help in her search will get in touch.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS|P.E.I. newcomers planting their roots
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS|Here are your chances of pulling the ace and winning 750K