Several interesting reunion stories have been in the news lately. This story involves a brother who saved his sister's life by donating bone marrow to her.

.... "I’ve got some good news and some bad news,’’’ .....‘‘‘The good news is you’ve got a sister.’ I was like, A what? A sister?’’’

The bad news was even more startling: His sister was sick, and the blood flowing through Ford’s veins held her only chance at survival.

Here is the Complete Story.

One of the most common and best accepted reasons for an adoption search done by an adoptee is to search because you are searching for medical information. This particular reason to search seems to be easier for the average person to accept as a legitimate reason to search.

Some people in the know wink when they hear an adoptee say that they are searching to obtain medical reasons. Adoptees know that they will get less flack if they tell people that is why they are searching. It is generally thought, however, that most searchers want more than just medical information.

When people petition courts to unseal their adoption records, they are more likely to gain access to their records if they list the need for medical records. One friend of mine who petitioned a court here in California for her records listed only medical reasons to have her records unsealed. She included a letter from her doctor, and did obtain her records.

In 2005, U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., launched a national public health campaign, called the "U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative" to encourage all American families to learn more about their family health history. He was quoted as saying, "Knowing your family history can save your life."

"Americans know that family history is important to health. A recent survey found that 96 percent of Americans believe that knowing their family history is important. Yet, the same survey found that only one-third of Americans have ever tried to gather and write down their family's health history."

Here it the text of the website article about the Family History Initiative. No mention is made as to how adoptees in closed adoptions are supposed to get their family medical information. I do recall some official stating that adoptees "would have to try a bit harder." Hmmm, I wonder how much this gentlemen knows about adoption searching?