My childhood friend Juli tells me that one of the worst things about being adopted is going to the doctor. The nurse always asks about her health history, including her parents’ health history, to see what kind of risks to watch out for.

She draws a blank. Each and every time. She has no clue if the experiences she’s had with her body and mind are rooted in her genetic makeup.

~~~

A friend had some bad news recently: her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer  (caught early; the prognosis is good).

~~~

So what does this have to do with open adoption? My children will know.

Tessa will be able to ask Crystal at what age she started her period  — did you know that before age 12 is a risk factor? She’ll know if and where cancer may occur in her genetic line.

Reed will have access to heart and lung, skin and kidney, prostate and stomach history and everything else. And if he ever has a daughter (or a son), he’ll be able to tell about the presence or absence of breast cancer in his genetic line.

I want my children to have dynamic information about the health of the people whose DNA they carry — not static information about the health of their birth parents at age 20. Open adoption enables Tessa and Reed to know over time what goes on with their birth relatives, clues to  what their own medical puzzle may look like.

What my friend Juli wouldn’t give for that.

Image by OpenClipart [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

~~~~~

Lori Holden, mom of a teen son and a teen daughter, blogs from Denver. Her book, The Open-Hearted Way to Open Adoption: Helping Your Child Grow Up Whole, is available through your favorite online bookseller and makes a thoughtful anytime gift for the adoptive families in your life.