An Adoption Story (S1): Iván's Discovery of His Birth Family Links in Russia and Armenia

[@IvánGastañaga]

Thank you Alex for your work and efforts to make this Adoption Story coming all the way to Chicago!

[@alexgilbert]

Thank you Iván for sharing your story with me!

[@benburns5995]

Ivan, thanks so much for sharing your story through Alex. Can only imagine the excitement you had by finding your birth parents. So glad that you have had such a successful life, are now married and living in Chicago, IL.

[@NanetteWoolston]

Wow, Ivan's journey of finding his origins, culture, and family, was extensive, and I really appreciate him taking us through this process of what an adoptee goes through when searching for family. Thank you!

[@NanetteWoolston]

Yes, Ivan looks Spanish, so it's great that he didn't experience any issues with looking different in Santander, and I think it's wonderful that he has a wonderful and caring family!

[@christinekeefe9004]

What an interesting story! Ivan resembles his birth grandma quite a bit. It was lovely to see the pictures of him with his sister. It looks like they have a great connection. I hope he gets to meet his birth father in person someday.

[@GaztaPilot]

Nice documentary about your hard work behind your story. Proud of you Iván, your little brother David.

[@IvánGastañaga]

Gracias David!!

[@nandinos]

Wow, what a rollercoaster for Ivan! My heart goes out to him for this challenging journey. I'm sure there is still more to discover. Best wishes Ivan. Thanks for sharing your story. And thanks for this series, Alex. Looking forward to the next one!

[@ellenm8778]

What a wonderful story of your existence I'm thankful of your adoptive parents rasing you with love and care and you grew up to be a good person as you are now so count your blessings all your beautiful family❤

[@dianapulido1807]

We, adoptees, go through a roller coaster of emotions whether we know we are adopted from the start or learn by chance when we are older. I learned when I was 60 years old. My adoptive parents never told me and I never would have even suspected that I was not their biological child. I have found my biological mother's side of the family. She has passed so have my adoptive parents. I don't know and will never know if they knew who she was. Anyway I'm know searching for my birth father and that side of the family. It is hard to deal with the all the emotions.

[@maya-dn9fl]

If I was adopted I would not want to know. Maybe they think it was best not telling you.

[@htx_enrix1931]

I was born in 2004 in Krasnodar Russia and adopted at 11 months and raised in Texas, USA. Now at 20 I very recently started thinking abt my roots and birth family heavy. I have my birth mom’s full name, birthday, and birth city. It’d be a dream of mine to be able to meet anybody in my family whether it’s my actual birth mom or cousins or just anything. I’ve been very emotional recently thinking about it

[@lorimav]

I have 5 children. 2 biological children and 3 boys that I adopted as older children ages, 7,9, and 11 from Russia. Their adoption was in 2007. They knew their biological parents well. 1 keeps up with biological family in Russia and still speaks Russian. I sent 2 back to spend 4 months with biological grandparents when the oldest was 14. Although they are friendly towards some members of their biological family they are understandably not at all interested in contact with any surviving birth parents and harbor deep resentment because of their early years. Older children who grew up with biological parents and were removed are usually removed for severe neglect and abuse often because of the parents substance abuse or even criminal activities. In those years Russian authorities only removed children for very serious reasons. Sometimes the mothers are not even sure who exactly was the birth father but that is where sites like My Heritage that have more European hits can possibly help.Children given up for adoption as infants may have a whole different set of circumstances. There was still a lot of poverty and substance abuse in 2004. My comments pertain chiefly about children taken from parents that are maybe 3-4 years of age or older. I hope you were adopted by a good adoptive family. I hope you are able to connect with birth family. Just know that some times it's an aunt or a grandmother that truly misses you the most.

[@britneyfanvideosfl]

Have you contacted Alex? Maybe he can help?

[@carlapaz8722]

He llorado del minuto 1 al minuto 33 con la historia de Ivan. Le deseo todo lo mejor. Gracias por compartirla

[@chnalvr]

Such a beautiful, challenging and real story. Thanks to the Internet, this type of personal investigation is easier and more possible than ever before. The non-judgmental approach is admirable but not always emotionally completely possible. I can see that one must feel and deal with their own emotions about what biological parents and family members did in the past and perhaps what they are doing now.

[@IvánGastañaga]

You are totally right! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[@hannesvanniekerk499]

What a beautiful, wonderful story- thank you for sharing. Will be praying for breakthrough.

[@jimjam8949]

Wonderful account of one man's search. He makes such an important point for everyone regardless of whether you are adopted or not. It's important to understand where your from. It helps you understand your own life and others with a more open mind.

[@maggieadams8600]

Thank you for sharing Ivan's story, and I am glad to learn that there's help for others in his position; it's importance is beyond measure.

[@nobillclinton]

Great content. Godspeed, Alex Gilbert.

[@ceciliavallejos9887]

Thank you Alex, I have been following you for some time, now you bring us Ivan.... Each and every story is as unique yet different from family to family, but all very charged with emotion. We all need to honour our DNA, find our progenitors, our ancestors... I too brought my daugther to Madrid, then to the United States in 1996. Our story was quite uneventful in that we look so much alike, people react surprised when they learn she is adopted; but like the many adoptees, and because of health issues, she has already started searching for her roots.... Gracias Ivan, por la interesantisima trayectoria de tu vida, tus encuentros emocionantes, y ahora me has despertado interes de ver mas sobre tus trabajos de carrera. Los mejores deseos para Nikki, y para ti de parte nuestra!

[@riverpeshin2771]

Amazing story and everything so well said. I love hearing new adoption stories and the clarity that all this can bring to us adoptees!!

[@WolfennFaLL]

He seems like a great guy, i wouldn't mind inviting him and his wife to a bbq.

[@StaffanSwede]

Thank you for another interesting story. So many wise and intelligent things are said in this series that it takes a lot of time and effort to let it all soak in. I'm very grateful to you for creating these videos and equally grateful to the adoptees for sharing their stories with us.

[@sandragastanaga6142]

Que pasada impresionante el trabajo !! Emocionante y tu solo lo conseguiste después de mucho empeño y sacrificio muchas horas días y meses de espera y por ello tienes esta pedazo de historia que nos emociona cada momento a pesar de ser en otro idioma TE QUEREMOS MUCHO ❤TU HERMANA Y TU SOBRINA

[@IvánGastañaga]

Gracias a ti!

[@loud_hailer6240]

This is a great video! Ivan was so pleasant to hear and open and honest about his story

[@Peter-jk1lt]

An excellent effort and story Alex. Great work Ivan.

[@MegaVictorygirl]

Incredible story! Best of luck in the future Ivan.

[@psenisen]

Am so excited for all of you. You have had and have a wonderful experience (with patience) and a good healthy attitude. This is your story and I commend you as well as all others that have and do this kind of work to find their origins as well as the gentleman who is dedicated to helping others in their quest as he has, his own. He has helped you with understanding of other's feelings and possible situations. I commend you all in this journey for the love, care and sensitivity of how it is handled .

[@LauraG313]

Wow this was so well done! Thank you for sharing his story. ❤🙏🏻❤️

[@psenisen]

Very well done.

[@siobhan7798]

You are both great decent people , doing great work

[@alexgilbert]

Thank you!

[@oscarcobogonzalez2140]

Me alegra ver hasta donde llegaste ivan! Compañeros de clase en el instituto, espero que todo te vaya bien

[@IvánGastañaga]

Oscar! que bueno leerte por aquí. Abrazos)

[@christianinoz1]

Wonderful story - thanks for sharing

[@raya9283]

Iván is so handsome and confident. Besides, he looks 100% as if he was the biological child of his adoptive mother and father!

[@psenisen]

Our Heavenly Father does marvelous things.

[@siobhan7798]

Thank you Ivan, amazing story, thank you Alex

[@paulafiol6536]

Historias como estas emocionan yo soy adoptada de Rusia viene a Mallorca con 9 meses ❤

[@ttv.s_cb6263]

Love you work, inspiring 😊

[@rizaldepe8623]

Wow such a lovely story well done Sir Ivan❤❤❤

[@ramonam9251]

Ivan has a brave heart❤

[@texasgina]

Hey Alex! Looking forward to watching this.

[@annabondaruk4583]

Wow! Wonderful story. I like that Ivan is able not to judge his biological parents, I think only mature person can able to go beyond judging. I think your biological mom was very brave to acknowledge and open this small tiny door of possibility to find the rest of your biological family. I say brave, because most probably, no-one in her recent family knew about your existence. And even though people in Russia and post-soviet republics know how difficult times were back then, people tend to put blame and all responsibility on woman for not keeping the child and not raising it. So by opening that door for you she had to admit to what she did in the past and let other people (like your half brother) know about it. She did it for you. At least this.

[@marveadler980]

So happy for you Ivan and thanks to you Alex for helping him. I am also adopted and live in the Chicago area and my story is a good outcome one. Alex the next time you come to Chicago please let me know so we may be able to meet.

[@alexgilbert]

Thank you!

[@jlpack62]

Upon meeting Ivan for the first time, I can't help but wonder if his appearance reminded his mother of his father, and if that maybe made the initial meeting uncomfortable for her?

[@carlosandresgutierrezperez7321]

Que bueno primo Iván

[@paulafiol6536]

Me encanta la historia yo también soy adoptada de Rusia vine con 9 meses

[@nexdream7655]

Thank you

[@sonyasassy5900]

Ivan really resembles Carlo from @Carlo&Sarah blogs. Really thought it was him.

[@IvánGastañaga]

Hahaha, is not the first time someone has asked me if we're relatives!

[@angelaberni8873]

He looks so very Spanish.

[@banemattiebrahaspat4902]

Very nice

[@J-S.I]

Every time I watch the story of an adopted person the verse from the Quran comes in my mind. My father was adopted… long story. He never had chance to find out who his real parents were because didn’t have the courage to ask his adopted parents for the information. He didn’t want to seen ungrateful or come across as disrespectful to them. Very sad . In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful . Did He not find thee an orphan and give thee shelter (and care)? And He found thee wandering, and He gave thee guidance. And He found thee in need, and made thee independent. Therefore, treat not the orphan with harshness, Nor repulse the petitioner (unheard); But the bounty of the Lord - rehearse and proclaim

[@Monkey_Paws]

❤

[@nikavishneva7469]

Эти армянские " мужчины"... очень часто заводят детей " на стороне" со славянскими денщинами-- будучи женатыми уже на армянской женщине!!