Our Story of Love Undeniable
It was more than a twist of fate when our fates twisted together.
Years passed as we wondered and contemplated the mysteries of siblings unmet,
And a mother's hold, long-lost but not forgotten.
Then a connection is made.
Our smiles blazed like rays of sunlight crisscrossing through the early morning haze.
We were lost, but now are found.
Brother Bruce
Approximately 45 years ago Mae Sanborn's two young sons were separated from her against her will. This was due in part to an intrusive governmental bureaucracy named Department of Youth Services. They were living in Mansfield Ohio at the time (mid 1950s). Her sons were assigned to a foster home and set up for adoption against the will of their young mother (things were different back then). The two boys, Loren (age 5) and Jerry (age 4), were adopted by a couple not much older than their own mother. Upon their adoption Mae Sanborn was not authorized for information as to her children's whereabouts and she feared they were lost to her forever.
After several years Mae Sanborn remarried and had two wonderful children, a boy named Bruce and a girl named Laura. Bruce and Laura were told about their brothers at a young age. When they became teenagers they actively assisted their mother in trying to track down their brothers, to no avail. The only information available to them was the boys’ birth names. There were many questions; did their adoptive parents retain any part of their birth names, were they adopted together or were they separated? Mae, Bruce and Laura had no answers.
Mae sent away to the State Archivist for any information on her two boys’ birth certificates. She was able to get a copy of Loren's because he was born in MI whereas Jerry was born in OH and when he was adopted his original birth certificate was filed under his adoptive name and was unrecoverable by his birth name.
Little did Mae, Bruce and Laura know that as teenagers two boys were searching for their birth mother. At the ages of 19 and 18, Loren and Jerry began their search in earnest. Through years of phone calls, searching through newspapers, Loren and Jerry kept running into dead ends in their search. At one point Jerry went to Columbus Ohio, to the State Records Bureau, and was told that the current law did not allow him to review any records prior to his adoption even if they were his. It would be several years later that the law would change allowing him to get a copy of those records. This seemed like a boon for the brothers because this gave Jerry access to his original birth certificate, which contained his birth name, his Father's name and his mother's maiden name. But the brothers soon found that even this information was little help in the search.
Then in 1985 Loren went to the Ohio State adoption agency where he met a man by the name of Mr. Fuddy. It just so happened that Mr. Fuddy was the case manager who handled their adoption 27 years previous. The amazing thing about this was that Mr. Fuddy was to retire at the end of that week and their case records would have been destroyed upon his leaving the agency. Mr. Fuddy just happened to have a note from the boys father saying that if they ever came to that office searching for him that he was going back to Grand Rapids MI to live. So Mr. Fuddy made one last official act as a case manager and contacted the MI Adoption authorities who were able to contact the boys father.
So in 1985 Loren and Jerry were reunited with their father whom they correspond with periodically today. However their father could not provide any information on the whereabouts of their mother. So Loren and Jerry spent the next 17 years continuing the search for their mother. About 7 years ago Loren, who was born in Midland, MI, traveled to Midland to research library and hospital records. Little did he know that his mother was working in the very hospital he was born in 42 years previous and may have even passed her in the hallways of that hospital. Those searches did not reveal any further help in locating their mother. About 1 year ago Loren and Jerry had just about given up hope of ever finding their mother. Jerry decided as his last effort he would post messages on the Adoption Web sites on the Internet. Those postings initially drew the attention of several people who wanted a lot of money but could not promise any results. When Jerry had not heard anything from those Internet postings for about a year he had unwillingly given up hope.
On the day before Valentines Day Jerry received an E-mail from a Mr. Wayne Covert saying, Subject: Mae Sanborn… "If you are still searching for her I may have located her. Please email me if you are still searching. Wayne Covert (Private Investigator) Jerry's heart immediately began to race but then he became skeptical; was this just another money hunter? Jerry and Wayne had several further e-mails and on 16 February 2002 Mae Sanborn received a telephone call from Wayne.
For years Mae had prayed for that one special call. Early Saturday morning she received that call from Wayne Covert. After quickly confirming personal identification Wayne discretely asked her if she wished to have contact with her sons. Choking back tears, Mae sobbed out an almost inaudible YES! Wayne explained that one of her sons would soon be in contact with her. Within minutes the phone rang again. Nervously Mae answered, it was Jerry! At last, the chance to hear the voice of her child that she had prayed and worried about almost her entire life.
Wayne called Jerry after talking to Mae to inform him that this person was in fact his mother. If you have never seen a grown man cry you should have seen Jerry during that phone call. It took several minutes to re-compose himself and try to call his brother Loren, who was not home to receive the news and would not be returning until later that evening. So Jerry called the telephone number that Wayne gave him and talked to his mother for the first time in over 45 years. Oh My, what a wonderful phone call!
Jerry and Mae could barely make conversation in between their sobs of joyous crying and for over 2 hours they tried to bring together what years had separated. Mae told Jerry of his new brother Bruce and his wife Carol and their children Katie, Camie, Michael and Alexandria. Then about his new sister, Laura and her husband Butch and her son Corey and her grandchildren, Jacob and Allea. Jerry briefly explained that he is happily married with 2 beautiful daughters and resides in MA. He and Loren had been adopted together. Mae wept as she realized God had answered her prayers that her two sons were kept together through the adoption. Jerry went on to explain that Loren too is happily married and now lives in MO. At the time, Loren was at church preparing for a special musical program and had no idea that that particular day would change his life forever. Plans were made for Jerry, Loren and Mae to conference call that same evening at 5:30PM as soon as Loren arrived home from church.
After hanging up the phone Jerry anxiously e-mailed pictures to his mother. Unfortunately Mae was unable to access the pictures. Feeling frustrated, she forwarded the e-mail to her third son, Bruce who currently resides in MN. Bruce being the computer hero of the family posted the pictures to his web site, allowing easy access for all family to review. Mae, with her sister Opal and daughter Laura, was finally able to cast her sight on her beloved sons. Who do they resemble? The chatter flies and family begins to come together.
Waiting for that evening’s call seemed as long as their years apart. 5:30PM promptly the phone rings. Upon answering, it is once again Wayne Covert calling to confirm that all is well. Mom struggles to find the words to express her feelings. Thank You seems so insignificant yet so heartfelt. Convinced he has done the right thing, Wayne says goodbye as he realizes Mae is waiting for her sons to call.
At about 6:00 that evening Jerry called Loren and tried to act casual and asked him how is day was. Then Jerry told him that there was someone he wanted to introduce Loren to and made the 3-way phone contact. As in so many times through out their lives, and as sometimes twins often do, Loren instinctively knew what Jerry was about to do. Once the 3-way connection was made Loren’s first words were "is this Mom?" All three began to cry. To hear her boys speak the word, "Mom" brings uncontrollable tears. Truly the sweetest name is Mother! And for the first time in over 45 years a mother speaks to both of her sons. Thus opens the channel of communication that would last approximately four and one half hours.
There were so many questions. How may times can you say how wonderful it is to talk with one another. Sticky notes adorn the tabletop with quickly written bits of information. Loren's wife is Mary and they have 4 "furry babies". Jerry's wife is Sheryl and they have two beautiful daughters, Leslie (TJ) who is 13 and Tessa, 6. Loren has two sons, Jonathan and Nathan, now 21 & 22. Loren and Jerry grew-up in Mansfield, OH. Oh the heartache to now know that within the same town where every question asked was denied turned out to be the same town where they lived!
Most of the conversation is hectic, without script or prose. It is difficult to recall all that is said because it is the heart that now hears more than ears.
As Mae reluctantly hung up the phone Loren and Jerry stayed on the line and made plans for a visit later that week. The next several days were spent sending E-mails and making phone calls and becoming acquainted. Bruce, Laura, Loren and Jerry were quickly forming a sibling bond over the miles. On Thursday the 21st of February Bruce, his wife Carol and three of their four children drove the 12 hours through the night from St Paul, Minnesota to Midland MI to be with his mom and sister Laura to welcome their long lost brothers to the family when they arrived. Loren flew in to Midland on the 21st from Independence MO at about 12:30 in the afternoon and Jerry flew in from Springfield MA at about 7:00PM.
They were both welcomed with open arms and were nearly smothered in hugs and kisses. Mae and her children spent the next three days catching up, sharing family pictures and telling each other about everything from 1958 to 2002. More family & friends than you can shake a stick at helped celebrate the homecoming, Mae’s sisters Opal and Patricia, Mae’s niece Lena and her son Charles, made cake, decorated the house with balloons & beautiful home drawn posters and Monica, Mae's care-giver and friend did extra cooking that was so good it made your tongue slap your brains out.
The Family went to church together that Sunday to thank the Father in Heaven for the miracle of their reunion and the entire family has adopted Wayne Covert into their family. And now the new chapters in all their lives begin. Mae (known to all her children as Mom), Loren (1953), Jerry (1954), Bruce (1960) and Laura (1963) bring their families together never to be separated again.
Thanks to the family finder, Wayne:
Wayne Covert
185 Orchard PL. Apt 5
Lackawanna, NY 14218
716-824-5719