“The only reminder one woman has of her birth parents is a medallion of the Virgin Mary that was attached to her diaper when she was presented from a home for unwed mothers to her adoptive parents.”



Recently, I received a link for a very interesting reunion story in a Kansas City newspaper. The story sounded very familiar to me. A woman named Dodie Jacobi had been given a medallion by her adoptive mom when she was 18 years old. For many years she worn the medallion around her neck. It reminded her of her adoption. When she finally decided that she wanted to find her birth family, the medallion played an important role in her search. Check here for the complete story.

I think you may enjoy it!

This story is a good illustration of how a very small clue in a search can be significant. Dodie Jacobi’s story was also the subject of an episode of a PBS Show called “History Detectives” which aired in my area in December of 2005. That's why it sounded so familiar to me. The History Detective takes a mystery, with some historical interest (in this case a medallion) and using regular investigative methods solves the case.

Their investigator headed to Missouri to help Dodie Jacobi’s identify and locate her birth mother. It is an interesting mystery and an emotional tale.

I found the show very enjoyable. Watch for it in reruns in your area! The full transcript of the History Detective episode involving the search for Ms. Jacobi’s birth mother can be located here as well.

Here is the description of the History Detective episode:

The Detective: Gwen Wright
The Place: Kansas City, Missouri
The Case: The only reminder one woman has of her birth parents is a medallion of the Virgin Mary that was attached to her diaper when she was presented from a home for unwed mothers to her adoptive parents. Homes for unwed mothers were a national trend from the beginning of the 20th century until the 1970s, when they fell from use.

For more on this interesting story visit History Detective