Raymona's Journey: A Novel

RAYMONA’S JOURNEY

A Novel

Gary E. Kirby

iUniverse, Inc.

New York Lincoln Shanghai

Raymona’s Journey

A Novel

Copyright © 2008 by Gary E. Kirby

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used

fictitiously.

ISBN: 978-0-595-47950-4 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-0-595-71423-0 (cloth)

ISBN: 978-0-595-60098-4 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Introduction

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

For Betsy, Thanks for Everything!

Thanks also to my editor, Mary Haakenson Perry, author of Onward, Crispy Shoulders! Her suggestions, corrections, and advice helped me bring this work to a publishable level.

Introduction

In an effort to learn the story of my life before I was adopted, I discovered that the Children’s Home Society of California, for a price, would send me the non-identifying information they had which might shed some new light on my birth mother and my history. Raymona’s Journey is my attempt to breathe life into those facts, and bring a kind of closure to my search. The Children’s Home Society of California information is fact; the remainder of the story is fiction. Writing this book has been a truly cathartic journey for me. The story is written from the voice of a young girl who is experiencing the joy, sadness, heartache, and love that are all part of the human condition.

Documents received from the Children’s Home Society of California March 25, 2002

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS 1300 West Fourth Street Los Angeles, CA 90017-1475 (213) 240.5900 FAX (213) 240.5945

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Mr. Kirby:

The following is in response to your request to Children’s Home Society of California (CHS) for non-identifying background information. Unless otherwise indicated, this information is what was provided to CHS at the time of your adoption.

According to the record, the following information was provided to CHS by your birth mother. She was nearly 18 years of age at the time of your birth. She was born in Indiana and was of Irish, English and Dutch descent. She was of the Methodist faith. She was five feet, eight and one-half inches tall and weighed 136 pounds. She had brown wavy hair, pretty gray-blue eyes and a light olive complexion. She had an oval shaped face, and was described as tall and slender. She completed some of her first year of high school, after which time she went to work at a dime store and as a waitress. Documentation in the record indicates your birth mother received average grades in school. Documentation in the record further indicates your birth mother’s health history included diphtheria, nephritis, and scarlet fever. Your birth mother told the social worker she had high blood pressure, which was not sufficiently bad to cause her any trouble. Your birth mother otherwise described her health as good.

According to the record, the following information regarding your maternal extended family was provided to CHS by your birth mother. Your maternal grandfather was 45 years of age at the time of your birth. Other documentation in the record indicates he was 57 years of age at the time of your birth. He was born in Indiana. He completed grade school and was employed as a foreman for a pump company. Your birth mother indicated your maternal grandfather served in World War II. Your maternal grandmother was deceased by the time of your birth. Your birth mother indicated she passed away from a blood clot during childbirth. She was approximately 34 years of age at the time of her death. She was born in Indiana, completed grade school and was a housewife. Your birth mother indicated she had four sisters and two brothers. One of your maternal aunts was deceased by the time of your birth. Your birth mother indicated this relative passed away at the age of 2 months of colitis. Other documentation in the record indicates she passed away from pneumonia. Another maternal aunt was 22 years of age at the time of your birth. She completed the eleventh grade and was a housewife and married to a mechanic. Together, they had two children (your cousins). One of your maternal uncles was 20 years of age at the time of your birth. He completed the tenth grade and was married with two children (your cousins). Another maternal aunt was 17 years of age at the time of your birth. She was a high school student. Your other maternal uncle was 15 years of age at the time of your birth. He was a ninth grade student. Your other maternal aunt was eight years of age at the time of your birth. She was a fourth grade student. Your birth mother described her two youngest siblings as being very bright youngsters. Your birth mother indicated all of her siblings were born in Indiana. Your birth mother told the social worker there was no family history of mental illness or hereditary disease. According to the record, information about other members of your birth mother’s family was provided to CHS. Her paternal grandparents (your great-grandparents) were deceased by the time of your adoption (cause of death not indicated). While alive, her paternal grandfather was employed by a pump company. A maternal aunt (your great-aunt) was living at the time of your adoption. There appears to be no further information in the record regarding these relatives.

Background Report—Kirby March 26, 2002

According to the record, the following information regarding your birth father was provided to CHS by your birth mother. He was approximately 24 years of age at the time of your birth. He was born in Indiana and was of the white race, and had a little bit of Indian (tribal affiliation and percentage not indicated by birth mother) in his background. He had dark hair and big blue eyes. He was five feet, ten inches tall and weighed 186 pounds. He had blond hair and blue eyes. He had a small frame. Your birth mother believed your birth father was a high school graduate, was in the military, and that he played professional softball. Your birth mother indicated your birth father was in good health and had no serious illnesses. Your birth mother described your birth father as a very nice-looking person who was neat and clean about his appearance. Your birth mother also noted your birth father was a good worker.

According to the record, the following information regarding your paternal extended family was provided to CHS by your birth mother. Your paternal grandfather was deceased by the time of your birth. Your birth mother indicated this relative passed away when your birth father was a baby. His cause of death was not indicated. Your paternal grandmother was approximately 43 years of age at the time of your birth. She owned and operated a small cafe. Your birth mother indicated your birth father had one full brother and two half brothers. Your full paternal uncle was approximately 18 years of age at the time of your birth. Your half paternal uncles were approximately 10 and five years of age at the time of your birth. Your birth mother described your half paternal uncles as being very smart in school.

According to the record, your birth mother told the social worker she grew up on a farm, and she recalled a happy childhood. Following the death of her mother, her father remarried and eventually, his whereabouts became unknown to her and her siblings. For a short period of time, your birth mother cared for her siblings and she left high school in order to work and meet their financial needs. Your birth mother and her siblings also lived with a neighbor, until a local child welfare agency stepped in to care for them. Following that time, your birth mother went to live with a foster family, one of her sisters went to live with an aunt, and her two youngest siblings went to live with her paternal step-grandfather and his wife.

According to the record, your birth mother and birth father were both single and had no children born to either of them prior to your birth. Your birth mother told the social worker that your birth father was the son of the foster parents she lived with, and that the two would date when he visited home from military duty. Upon discovering her pregnancy with you, your birth mother decided not to inform your birth father, but rather, she named another gentleman as your birth father in order to keep her relationship with your birth father concealed from his family. When the pregnancy became evident, your birth mother went to live in a maternity home.

This letter and the attached documents include medical information about you and your birth family contained in the record. Attached are the following documents (identifying information deleted):

1. Medical Information—The Mother

2. Medical Information—The Infant

According to the record, your birth mother began receiving prenatal care on September 24, 1945, and she gained approximately 28 pounds during her pregnancy with you. Her Wasserman test of blood was listed as negative. There were no noted complications of pregnancy. According to the record, you were born full-term on March 5, 1946, at 4:50 a.m. at a hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. You were five pounds, twelve ounces in weight. Medical documentation in the record indicates forceps were used in your delivery and you presented in the head first position after about 18 hours of labor. Documentation in the record indicates, All tests were negative following birth. Medical documentation in the record further indicates there were no complications of labor or delivery and no congenital malformations or birth injuries were noted. Your weight gain was documented as one pound, fifteen ounces, while in the hospital. On April 26, 1946, you were released from the hospital and placed in the care of your birth mother. Although your birth mother initially planned adoption for you, she indicated she could not bear to part with you after you were born. Because a child welfare agency was overseeing your birth mother’s well-being, your birth mother requested and was granted permission to relocate to a new area, take you with her, and together, reside with her married sister. During that time, your birth mother worked and your maternal aunt provided care for you. Your birth mother indicated she, her sister and her brother in-law were experiencing difficulties, and she left their home. Through the child welfare agency, your birth mother was able to secure a boarding home placement for you, and in March 1947, you went to live with a boarding family (not a CHS boarding home). During that time, the record indicates your birth mother visited with you on several occasions. In addition, the record indicates your boarding mother would often take you to visit your birth mother at her place of employment. According to the record, your birth mother began to feel you deserved a two-parent family who could offer you security. Although a very difficult decision for her, your birth mother ultimately decided that allowing you the opportunity of an adoptive family was the best plan. On August 25, 1947, your birth mother contacted CHS. At that time, she expressed her desire to secure a permanent home for you. During that time, you received the following medical care. The record indicates you visited the pediatrician on August 26, 1947, at which time you weighed 25 pounds, eight ounces and were 31 % inches tall. Your physical examination was entirely negative and the doctor noted you were eating three meals a day with cod liver oil, multibeta, orange juice, cooked cereals, vegetables and fruit. At that time, your boarding mother reported you were eating, drinking and sleeping very well. The doctor described you as a very lovely baby in every way and indicated you were well nourished and well developed. On September 12, 1947, you received a Wassermann test of blood and the results were negative. On September 18, 1947, October 16, 1947, and November 20, 1947, you received your first, second and third DPT immunizations, respectively. On November 4, 1947, you visited the pediatrician due to a cold and small temperature. At that time, you complained of a sore throat and cough. The doctor noted inflamed throat and tonsils, and mild nasalpharyngitis. Your ears and chest were clear and the doctor recommended steam inhalations with medication of pine needle and’-benzoine, and a prescription for sul-fadyazine tablets was prescribed. At that time, you weighed 26 pounds, 14 ounces, and the doctor advised the continuance ofcod liver oil, multibeta and orange juice.

During your stay with your boarding family (not a CHS boarding home), the social worker noted you were a very charming youngster, very well behaved and very alert and responsive. The social worker also noted you were well-adjusted and were a friendly, attractive, beautiful child. The social worker further noted you were a very bright child with blue eyes, straight brown hair and a tanned complexion.

Developmentally, your birth mother reported you began walking, started talking, and had all your teeth, except your molars, by the approximate age of 11 months. Your birth mother also reported you imitated easily. Your foster mother reported you had quite a vocabulary at the age of 17 months, and that you noticed everything that was going on around you. Your foster mother further reported you were an active child who was restless and quite vocal. The social worker noted you were able to point things out and identify them, were attempting to count, and had a nice array of facial expressions and many, very attractive mannerisms, by the approximate age of 18 months.

When you were approximately 18 months of age, your birth mother signed relinquishment documents, which allowed you to be placed for adoption. The record indicates that your birth mother was quite emotional following that time. On November 21, 1947, you met your adoptive parents for the first time. The social worker noted that your adoptive father had a bright metal airplane to share with you. The social worker further noted you were quite interested in your adoptive mother, and immediately took to your adoptive father. On November 22, 1947, you and the CHS social worker went for a brief visit to the home of your adoptive parents. At that time, your adoptive parents showed you the house, including your bedroom. On November 23, 1947, you spent the afternoon alone with your adoptive family. On this date, you ate lunch with your adoptive parents and napped in your bedroom. On November 24, 1947, you spent the late afternoon and evening alone with your adoptive parents and adoptive grandmother, and the social worker noted you ran joyfully up to the front