Korean Adoptee Reunites With Her Birth Mother by Jeanne Modderman

Melissa Konomos had always felt a longing to to connect with her birth parents and to understand why she had been placed for adoption. She spent seven years searching for her birth mother until she received the call that they had found her birth mother and that she wanted to meet. This is the story of Melissa's journey and the challenges that come with reuniting.

Courtesy of: Jeanne Modderman

Epilogue updated for KoreAm Journal.

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[xxsleexx]

to everyone who is commenting saying "she doesn't appreciate her adopted parents..." "she should have learnt korean..." etc. you watched a 6 minute video on her, you don't know her. though she doesn't say, she could have a fantastic relationship with her adopted parents but feels like she just needs that connection to her roots - everyone is different and has different reasons for doing things. don't pass judgement so quickly!

[tokkiheartsyou]

i'm a korean adoptee and i've always thought about my birth mom everyday of my life and when her birth mom said she never was able to forget her since the day she let her go, i just started BAWLING like i can't stop crying. i hope i really meet my birth parents. especially oma 💓

[HoustonYu]

I'm Korean, and I'd totally give u a hug. Don't feel lonely!

[judithneeley]

She has an adoring husband who is there by her side which is a huge blessing. I understand he can't take the place of her birth mother, and the urge to find her cannot be minimized. Even so, count your blessings! Not everyone gets everything. I am happy she and her birth mother came together. If they had not, she still has been incredibly blessed with family.

[UshaBrahma]

That mother looks so young!!! Koreans really know how to not age :/

[JenaBakalov]

OMG ! Her biological mom is so beautiful.

[rootedtogrowwny]

I found my natural mother. She hates my existence and wants me to be her dirty little secret. She has gotten family to turn their back on me. It's very clear I am rejected and unloved. I pray one day she does the Christ-like thing and accepts me and let's me get to know my sisters, uncles, and cousins. Nobody deserves to be in the hell I am living in.

[dorenemellene]

I'm a white American, and I think she is so beautiful. I would have never treated her bad, because I don't believe in treating anyone bad. I hope she gets the opportunity to learn Korean so she can have good communication with her biological family. I wish her good luck, and happiness, and may doors open for her so she can finally get the feeling of belonging that she truly deserves.

[elizabethcuartas]

First thing I thought was what a beautiful mom !! Looks very young and reflects kindness you are very fortunate to have two mothers some people have no body to care for them .

[xanairigoien]

I wish her adopted parents had help her by teaching her about her culture and language this process would have been much easier

[socomaster]

As an adopted korean myself I don't really feel the need to meet my birthparents. It would feel strange to me.

[mgustafson]

Thank you... I am a 17 year old Korean adoptee in America feeling the same way. I almost gave up on actually finding my parents thank you. I really hope I will find them. I will meet hoping to meet them.

[Saffron]

My kids are adopted and they absolutely do not feel this way at all.  I think each person feelings differently towards being adopted.  My daughter knows of her condition when she was in the orphanage and that many babies died due to lack of care.  She was riddled with parasites and malnourished.  My son is from an Asian country and he was abandoned because he has a correctable special need.  However, if they want to meet to search and find their biological parents we would support them 100%.  Neither of them have any need or longing to do so at this moment.  

[timthycoleman]

i am glad u did this video. i am a korean adoptee as well and have felt everything u described feeling being adopted. i feel very alone in thos world and times that i wish to just b held by my birth mother. it has been a struggle growing up and still is a struggle to live. i don't know why but i have had a longing to learn more of my family and where i came from. i happy for u that u could finally find ur mother. that gives me a little hope that maybe i could find mine. i just habe to battle my depression as well as i think being adopted may have attributed to that but one battle at a time i guess. thank you again for the hope .

[ShiaNaturesFearie]

The way she feels like not belonging anywhere is the difficulty every foreigner has in whatever country they live. They often feel as if they're living between two worlds/countries in which they both don't feel accepted for their looks and mixed culture.

[sampaoli]

I was born in South Korea, one or two days after my birth child services came and took me. I have been looking through documents for some time now and upon recent news I learned that my biological mother was forced into an intimate relationship with a man she did not know very well. I learned that my adoption was strictly anonymous. My birth mother did not leave anything of relation to her, no notes, no picture, no name. I have accepted the fact that she never wanted me to know her. I keep my search on

[shanti]

Beautiful that you found your birth mom. My deepest respect goes to parents who are willing to adopt. God bless you all.
It’s sweet how much your husband loves and supports you. That shines through. xox

[Gysele]

This is powerful. So intense & surreal. I met my mother in 2001. I wanted a relationship with her, but, she pushed me away, again, so I let her go.
I'm so happy for this young lady & her mother.

[joannelwatson]

I did not need a translation. Her mother never forgot her and loves her child so much. I cannot imagine her poor mothers life, not knowing if her baby was alive and well. Thankful for sharing that joyful reunion.

[sandrahito]

I'm spanish and I have a chinese friend who was adopted by a spanish family and I talked to her about this a couple of times and she told me that she isn't curious about her birth parents. She told me she doesn't know if she has more siblings she doesn't even know exactly in which area of China she was born but she told me that her parents are the woman and man who adopted her and she doesn't feel the need to meet or know about her biological parents (she has spanish siblings though) She also told me that because in any case their biologcal parents were into something bad or even if she had biological siblings and she was the only one to give in adoption. I think she is a bit scared about knowing the truth so she just doesn't want to know.