I named my daughter Cheri before she was taken
from me. I wasn't allowed to send her any Christmas and birthday cards. So every
Christmas and birthday, I bought her a card and put 'on the mantelpiece. I lit a
candle and gazed into the flame and tried to imagine how she was growing up.
I hoped that her adoptive family were good
people. Most of all, I wished to tell her that I hadn't given her up without a
fight.
I met a man called Paul and we had a baby. Paul
would say: 'One day your daughter will come and find you.’
But would she?
The years passed.
Then, in 2004, I read Take a Break's campaign,
Witch Hunt of UK Mums,
and realised I was not alone. I told my story and started my own group, Unity
Injustice.
Mum’ Yvonne lit a candle each
Christmas and birthday for her daughter.
Cheri's 16th birthday came.
I posted a message on Genes Reunited: My name
is Yvonne Coulter and I am looking for my daughter. She was born on 16th March
1989 and her name was Cheri but it's been changed. I want to know how she is and
to let her know that I think about her often.
I didn't hold out much hope.
Then one day I logged on to my computer and saw
a message. I read it and started to shake. I hurried next door and fetched my
sister Debbie. Struck dumb, I pointed to the screen. Debbie said: 'She's found
you. And she's left her mobile number’.
It took three hours for me to compose myself. I
phoned and said: 'Hello, I'm your mum.'
I heard a sob.
I said: 'Have you been OK?'
'Yes,' she said. 'I've been looking for you.'
My daughter was now called Tammy. She still
felt like my daughter. Next day I went to meet her from school. Would I
recognise her? Was she angry with me?
I saw a girl with straight hair and dark eyes
and I moved towards her and we simply embraced. I took in her warmth and her
smell and thought: I've missed you so much.
We talked. I was pleased to learn that Tammy
had had a safe upbringing.
She liked school and had lots of friends. But
she had always felt that something was missing.
I asked: 'Did anyone tell
you why you were adopted?'
She said: 'I was told that
my father had run away and you couldn't look after me.’
I said: That's not true.
We were the victims of an injustice.' When her adoptive parents found out that
we'd met, they were hurt and upset. They didn't know my name had been cleared.
Later Tammy decided to live with me.
I told Tammy about my
campaign to get family courts opened up to scrutiny. She said: 'I'd like to
help.'
She was invited to address
the conference. When she finished her speech, I saw people wiping tears. I was
proud. This is an important step in ensuring that other innocent families do not
suffer as we did.
Yvonne
and Tammy together for Christmas
Yvonne Coulter, 34, of Ironville, Derbyshire
For more information on Yvonne's Unity
Injustice group, visit the web-site at
www.unity-injustice.co.uk
