Inclusion

It seems that every time I visit my Primary Physician at the University of Iowa Healthcare at Iowa River Landing, there is a new message on the board. This was today's message.

Speaking as an "Everyone", I felt welcomed, accepted, celebrated, encouraged, respected and loved (or at least liked.)

During my last visit I had told my Phisician how I was searching for my birth parents. I had mentioned I was born in June, but not adopted until November, and I was curious as to where I was during those five months. I told her about the "Practice Babies" (babies loaned out to Universities for their Home Economics programs) and how my wife, granddaughter and I were going to make a trip to the Iowa State University (ISU) Library.

I also had the opportunity today to tell her briefly how I discovered both of my birth parents, and how I've had the opportunity to meet new brothers, sisters, nieces, great nieces and great nephews. She was genuinely interested. I was impressed she remembered our discussion from three months ago. I couldn't even tell you what I had for lunch yesterday.

Today, during this visit it was the first thing she inquired about, and she listened intently as I told the story of the visit to ISU to look through their archives and how they did not yield any personal information but made for interesting reading. I was even able to share a bit about finding both my mothers and father's families. She asked a couple of questions, then started in with her medical questions, "Any pain today?"

"No, but I have an itch..."