A woman who found her own birth mother only a few years ago, is encouraging other adoptees to do the same.

Anne Roane Sheldon created the popular Newfoundland Labrador Adoptees Facebook page 12 years ago for “selfish reasons”. It was part of her own effort to answer the questions”Who am I, and where did I come from?”

She posted all the information she had at the time, but nothing happened until after she got her original birth certificate, and she made the connections.

She’s since made contact with her birth mother and her younger biological brother, who facilitated the reunion which she calls an amazing experience.

She admits that while many searches end happily, some don’t. For those who whose birth families are not welcoming, she urges understanding.

She understands why people might be angry, but you have to try to understand why a biological family might not accept being found.

Despite the trepidation some may feel about being rejected she encourages adoptees to give it a try, and says there’s a big community on the Facebook page who can offer support.