A little background..

- My journey started roughly thirty years ago in Bogota Colombia. I was born on September 2nd, 1984 and placed for adoption at FANA in Bogota. I was cared for by wonderful nurses and the late Mercedes Martinez the founder of FANA. I went through the abandonment process with the name Javier Cortes and was placed in 1985 with a wonderful family from New Brighton, MN USA and arrived in Minnesota on July 18th, 1985. My name was changed to Henry Abel.

I was an only child for approximately two years when my parents adopted a second son from the same orphanage. Then five years later a third son came along to our family the old fashioned way and completed our family of five.

Growing up I was surrounded by fellow adoptees and even some of my own cousins who are adopted and could somewhat relate. I attended K- 8th grade at a private catholic school then 9th-12th grade at the public school level and my experience was good. I had heard stories of other adoptees not as fortunate as I. They had experienced racism, and other forms of disrespect either because they looked different or because they were adopted. And for a few of them this didn't stop at school as they had to deal with it within their own families.

I had always wondered about my birth family growing up but I never asked too many questions because either I had no interest or I was kept too busy by school or other activities to think too much about it. As I've reached adulthood and questioned life and things that happen around me and the future I have reached a point where these questions about my early years and my birth family have made their way from the back of my consciousness to the front.. Like waves that start out way out in the middle of the ocean and eventually wash up on the shore of a beach. I have decided to start the search for my birth family as many others have before me. Whether I am successful or not this will be a learning experience for me.

My intent of this blog is to document and so myself and others may follow my search for my birth family. They, most especially my birth mother gave me life and chose to place me for adoption so I can one day live a better life than what they could provide. I owe my life to them and the choice they made for me early on.

This blog is where I will keep up to date the journey and the steps I will take. I appreciate the support of family and friends.

Sincerely, Henry