"I never wanted to hurt her feelings, or make her feel that I didn't appreciate what she had done for me by adopting me," said Bennette.

Sherri Bennette's comment above is such a typical one, but it always saddens me to think that so many still consider a search a personal affront to adoptive parents. A search is a personal quest and generally a much needed experience. People search because they want to satisfy their curiosity. Sometimes they may want to expand their circle of family by including birth family. A search is more a testament of a good adoption because a secure adopted person may feel safe enough to search. More people with happy and satisfying adoptive families probably search than those without good families.

The circumstances that influence people separated by adoption to search differ, and I am always interested to hear their reasons. In this story, Sherri Bennette's adoptive parents are no longer living, and she grew up with no siblings. Growing up without siblings seems to sometimes increase a longing to search for a birth family.

Ms. Bennette, the adoptee in this story grew up without any siblings. Now she would love to meet some of her siblings.The information that she has gathered indicates that she has six siblings. However, despite searching through all the usual channels she has come up empty.

Medical issues were also an important motivation for Sherri Bennette's search. With a whole host of medical issues, her doctors are urging her to find her birth family. They believe that having her medical information might help them treat her better. Although Pennsylvania has a medical registry where birth parents can supply medical information, there is scant help that this will help. Most state run programs are very ineffective in helping searchers. These programs are generally underfunded and not too many people know about them.

For now, Sherri Bennette is still searching. She is
is asking anyone with information about her birth family oto contact her at roselarabee@yahoo.com. I wish her luck!