D. knew all the "right" ways to discreetly contact a potential birth parent. However, her brain turned off when the woman that she was speaking to asked what she REALLY wanted. She burst into tears, and then blurted out that she was adopted and had reason to believe that the woman's husband might be her father.

The man's wife was very kind and spoke with D. a few minutes more. She inquired as to whether or not D. had a good life. The she said that her husband would probably call D. later that night. He did!

The best that D. could hope for was that this man might be skeptical, but, would not hang up on her. She never dreamed that he would enthusiastically accept the possibility that she was his daughter right away. However, that is exactly what he did do.

D. called me that night and told me about their conversation. He was thrilled to know that he had a daughter and told D. that he had dreamed of having one. Tears flowed from time to time on both ends as the conversation proceeded. Though it was a bit early, D. wished him “Happy Father’s Day”. He was moved beyond words.

Just in time for Father's Day, a dad discovers he is a father. His daughter is almost 35 years old, and he is bursting with happiness and pride. A week after they spoke for the first time, they met. Their first visit lasted 11 hours!

As D. was leaving from that first visit, her father pressed something hard and cold into her hand. He told her that he wanted her to have it. “Your calling me was one of the bravest acts that I have ever known” he said. D. opened her hand to see what he had given her. Her birth father had served in Vietnam – it was his Silver Star. I guess courage runs in the family.