First-time National Exposure for Mothers of Adoption Loss: CUB founder, Lee Campbell, Speaks Out.

www.cubirthparents.org
Lee Campbell, the founder in 1976 of Concerned United Birthparents (CUB), makes a 1979 solo and center stage appearance on the "Donahue" show.
For the first time on nationally syndicated television, a birthmother confides her own and other mothers' experiences of surrendering their children. She also describes the PTSD process she went through to forget - as her social worker had told her to do - and what it was like to belatedly remember painful memories. She ties her story of reuniting with her 15-year-old son and his family to other mothers who also need to find their children missing in adoption and to reunite with them. She further reveals how she reluctantly accepted her mission to become an adoption reform activist, and how the closed adoption system will inevitably become more open.
Audience reaction illustrates common attitudes in the 1970s toward adoption surrender and reunion in general, and about birthparents and Lee Campbell's life and work in particular.
About Concerned United Birthparents (CUB).
Founded by Lee Campbell in 1976, CUB is the first, and the longest-lasting, organization in the world to support and advocate for mothers and fathers who lost children to the adoption industry. Along with CUB's ongoing focus on birthparents, today's CUB serves everyone affected by adoption. CUB believes that when feelings and experiences hidden behind adoption's façade are exposed, healing and wisdom follow.
On its website, CUB also makes available to members and eligible professionals more than 4,000 pages of its history. Meanwhile, Lee Campbell has captured some of this history in two books available on Amazon. "Stow Away: They told me to forget. And I did. Now my memory has mutiny in mind" and "Cast Off: They called us dangerous women. So we organized and proved them right."

[@jv-ep2tc]

I had 2 close female friends who were adopted in the 60s. Emotionally things aren't so great for them, as adults. Their adoptive mothers are dead. Friend One had a bad relationship with her mother and told me 20 years ago "my life will begin when my mother dies". Friend two had an adoptive sister to whom she no longer speaks. I think the story is that her real mother was her adoptive mother's friend and she found out later in life. In fact, her mother's obit listed the woman among her surviving family but was noted as her "best friend". I called friend two when her mother died and she wouldn't take my call [we were friends as kids and there was no reason not to but if she is angry about the situation, I guess it makes sense. Maybe she didn't want a consolation call because she didn't need consoling!!] My experience with these two women have turned me anti-adoption. I understand the need for guardianship but nobody should have their identity hidden and be forced to participate in a CHARADE.

[@LorraineDuskyB]

This is a great interview...However, Jane Pauley interviewed me on the Today show in 1976, after I wrote a long piece about giving up a child that was published in Town & Country. Odd place, I know, but it was for a special section on Children; I was a senior editor at T&C at the time and given the assignment to put the section together and decided--since I had already "come out" as it were in a March 1, 1975 piece in The New York Times to...do it again. The second piece caused much more commotion.

[@smantel7737]

God Bless you Lee Campbell. I'm writing a book. You have been an inspiration to me since your time on the Donahue Show. I'm an adoptee.

[@rachelhaynes9669]

I know this is a little late. It's my baby girls birthday today. I've longed for her for most of my life, and all of hers. Luckily I had a semi open adoption. I was seeking articles on getting over the grief of loosing a baby. I know her adoptive parents, and I love them. She'll always be mine.

[@janicescott7338]

I believe that most children are going to naturally want to know their birth parent’s when they come of age. Some might be afraid of hurting their adoptive parent’s. This was long ago and things have changed, but human emotion and love of your biological child doesn’t go away. I am so happy this woman found her son and his adoptive parent’s changed their outlook. It was to everyone’s advantage.

[@tinapires6234]

This is a topic that needs more attention and more media coverage. People need to be educated about all aspects of adoption. I thought this was an excellent video. Thank you, Dr. Lee Campbell, for bringing about more awareness on this subject, and for being a mentor, leader and advocate to many people affected by adoption! Please everyone who reads this, get the word out, and "share" this and other CUB videos!

[@parisa5014]

Wow that first story was incredible and moved me beyond words! Beautiful people with the spirit of God do exist ❤️ what a beautiful family, all of them.

[@AllBling]

I wonder if Lee Campbell knew then that 39 years after this show aired we would still be fighting and lobbying for adoption reform. Note the staid societal attitudes of the audience. It was very real.

[@elizabethgellatly8330]

She is on Facebook. Pretty amazing individual!

[@annejohnson4564]

I have two adopted relatives who would tell you they have no interest in meeting or even knowing facts about their first mothers. The armchair counselor in me wonders this comes from anger or from complacency (they both are pretty secure financially and happily married) or from both.

[@yosemite2405]

Adoption is the most messed up thing ever. adultadopteesupport.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-becoming-of-me.html www.adoptionhealing.com/SmilingAdoptees.html

[@AllBling]

Sometimes this reaction comes out of loyalty to their adoptive parents, or they could have been told any number or things about their first mother and therefore worried about what they would find. Every adoption involves a primal wound, regardless of if it's acknowledged or not. It's called "in the fog", but when coming out of the fog hits, it hits hard depending on the length of time it's been denied.

[@sissyrayself7508]

Probably from a multitude of reasons.

[@bonniemariedavis2909]

Do they have children of their own? Sometimes that the point at which it makes a difference and increases the desire to know one's origins.

[@terrykelly6113]

Not all adoptive parents are loving.

[@elgeneralxx]

17:30 well that tapes fucked