Sunday Mercury
A MIDLAND dad has revealed his
heartbreak search for the daughter taken away by social services 20 years ago
-because she had nappy rash.
Derick Gibson has thought about Donna Marie every day since she was whisked into
care at just 18 months old.
Social workers feared the child was being neglected because she had nappy rash -
claims that her parents always denied.
Now the former warehouse worker is
making an emotional appeal for information about Donna Marie's whereabouts, a
search sparked by the recent death of his own father.
"Social services said Donna Marie was not being cared for properly and that she
had nappy rash," recalled Derick from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
"But she was being looked after properly- and what baby doesn't get nappy rash?"
He added: "I would so love to get in touch with Donna Marie, who I believe could
be living in the Streetly or Rugeley areas.
If she reads this, I would say: please contact me because I still love and miss
you lots.
"I have never forgotten you and this is breaking my heart."
Donna Marie was born to Derick and a long-term girlfriend, who we are not naming
for legal reasons, but the couple later split up.
The father claims that Staffordshire
Social Services took the toddler into care because of concerns about her welfare
after spotting she had severe nappy rash.
Derick explained: "Me and my girlfriend had got together in 1982 and decided to
start trying for a baby.
'Neglected'
Derick was sent this picture of Donna Marie, aged four
Do you know Donna
Marie or are you searching for your lost family?
Write to Sunday
Mercury Reunions, Weaman Street, Birmingham, B4 6AY or e-mail
SundayMercury@mrn.co.uk
Terrible
I was doing warehouse work for a
clothing company and we were so happy when she discovered she was pregnant. When
Donna Marie arrived, she was beautiful. She was perfectly healthy and happy. I
was over the moon and so proud when I held her in my arms. I felt like I was
walking on air. I showed her to my dad, Ted, but my mum never saw her because
she died shortly after Donna Marie was born.
We didn't get a chance to show her off to everyone because social services took
her away from us.
Me and my girlfriend bad split at the time but they should never have taken our
baby away. She was happy and I would have cared for her properly.
"I was so distraught and still feel terrible about it today."
He added: "My dad passed away from
cancer in February, and that prompted me to launch a fresh search for Donna
Marie.
He would have been so happy to see me reunited with my daughter. I've written to
social services, asking them to let Donna Marie know I've searched for her on
many occasions. I've also placed notices in newspapers, but I haven't had any
luck so far. I will keep searching, though. I just want to see her again."
Last night, a Staffordshire County Council Social Services spokesman said: "It
is not our policy to comment on individual
cases.
But the Social Care and Health Directorate has received regular correspondence
and telephone calls from Mr Gibson and we are complying fully with the
daughter's wishes.
fionnuala_bourke@mrn.co.uk
Do you know Donna Marie or are you
searching for your lost family?
Write to Sunday Mercury Reunions,
Weaman Street, Birmingham, B4 6AY or e-mail
SundayMercury@mrn.co.uk
