Jane Blasio (Author)
Taken at Birth: Stolen Babies, Hidden Lies, and My Journey to Finding Home by Jane Blasio
Taken at Birth: Stolen Babies, Hidden Lies, and My Journey to Finding Home by Jane Blasio
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From the 1940s through the 1960s, young pregnant women entered the front door of a clinic in a small North Georgia town. Sometimes their babies exited out the back, sold to northern couples who were desperate to hold a newborn in their arms. But these weren't adoptions--they were transactions. And one unethical doctor was exploiting other people's tragedies.
Jane Blasio was one of those babies. At six, she learned she was adopted. At fourteen, she first saw her birth certificate, which led her to begin piecing together details of her past. Jane undertook a decades-long personal investigation to not only discover her own origins but identify and reunite other victims of the Hicks Clinic human trafficking scheme. Along the way she became an expert in illicit adoptions, serving as an investigator and telling her story on every major news network.
Taken at Birth is the remarkable account of her tireless quest for truth, justice, and resolution. Perfect for book clubs, as well as those interested in inspirational stories of adoption, human trafficking, and true crime.
Editorial Reviews
"Taken at Birth" is a riveting true tale of Jane Blasio's relentless pursuit of truth and justice, unraveling the dark secrets of a North Georgia clinic's human trafficking scheme. This inspirational story of resilience, adoption, and true crime is a compelling must-read for those seeking an unforgettable narrative of courage and redemption. -- Starry Ferry Books
FROM THE INSIDE FLAP
"Jane takes you on the ride of her life, weaving, in emotional detail, the search for her birth family, the shocking circumstances surrounding her adoption, and the dark secrets as deep as the small southern town where it all began. Through thoughtful investigative work, she effortlessly puts the reader front and center as this real-life story of deceit, trauma, and ultimately redemption unfolds. Regardless of our start in life, Jane reminds us, we all have the ability to find humanity if we know where to look."--Lisa Joyner, host ofLong Lost Family,Taken at Birth, andFind My Family; adoptee/adoptive mom
"In this gripping story that unfolds like a puzzle with no lid to provide the finished picture, Jane Blasio encounters numerous questions and too many missing pieces of information regarding her origins. Jane's search for answers, meaning, and belonging will take the reader to the darkest places in the human soul, ultimately unveiling the hardest truths to bear and then revealing the beauty found among the scattered pieces of the puzzle."--Anna LeBaron, author ofThe Polygamist's Daughter
"People like to say it takes a lot of courage to do a book like this: I think it takes a sight more than that. Jane Blasio lived a story that most of us could only imagine--from being sold as an infant by a small-town doctor to years of searching for her birth mother. A gut-wrenching ordeal. But she not only lived it, she wrote about it, bringing it all to life for the reader as it poured out of her. Sometimes you have to remind yourself that this was a life lived, not one just crafted."--Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, journalist, and author of two bestselling memoirs, All Over but the Shoutin'and Ava's Man
FROM THE BACK COVER
Anxious women. Hopeful couples. And the doctor who took advantage of them all. From the 1940s through the 1960s, young pregnant women entered the front door of a clinic in a small North Georgia town. Sometimes their babies exited out the back, sold to northern couples who were desperate to hold a newborn in their arms. But these weren't adoptions--they were transactions. And one unethical doctor was exploiting other people's tragedies.Jane Blasio was one of those babies. At six, she learned she was adopted. At fourteen, she first saw her birth certificate, which led her to begin piecing together details of her past. Jane undertook a decades-long personal investigation not only to discover her own origins but to identify and reunite other victims of the Hicks Clinic human trafficking scheme. Along the way she became an expert in illicit adoptions, serving as an investigator and telling her story on every major news network.Taken at Birthis the remarkable account of her tireless quest for truth, justice, and resolution.
About the Author
Jane Blasio is a Hicks Baby, sold at birth and passed through the back door of a clinic in North Georgia. She has served for more than 18 years in federal law enforcement. An expert in illegal adoption, she helped unravel the mystery of the Hicks Clinic, breaking the story in 1997. She has appeared on CNN, ABC'sPrimetime,Good Morning America,Fox News,Inside Edition, andEntertainment Tonight, as well as in theNew York Times,People, andReader's Digest. She was the investigative lead on the recent TLC docuseries,Taken at Birth. Jane currently lives in Akron, Ohio, and spends as much time as she can with family and friends.
Product details
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Publication
Revell
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Author
Jane Blasio (Author)
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Language
English
Lexile:
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Pages
224
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ISBN-13
9780800739416
Amazing Story!
A real life story with many ups and downs, turns and twists! Jane did a amazing job of her hurts, and fears but she also shared all of her amazing Joys she found on her journey meeting many wonderful people! Most of all the ending was the best! She found so many people who love her and she was able to forgive all the ones that hurt her! Finding that true unconditional love is found in Jesus! ❤️
This tragic tale, set in the 1960s, left me questioning how a doctor could perpetrate such deeds for an extended period without repercussions. The book's initial chapters were mesmerizing, but a turn in the narrative, where the author believed Kitty was her mother only to discover otherwise through a DNA test, left me feeling cheated. Lengthy sections dedicated to Carlynn and Kitty seemed unrelated to the central quest for the author's birth mother. The excessive details, often irrelevant to the core story, created a sense of prolonged filler, prompting a desire to skip ahead to the pivotal moments. Ultimately, the narrative left me disillusioned by its deviations and a sense of unfulfilled expectations.
In this poignant 17-chapter memoir spanning 200 pages, the author recounts the distressing revelation of being illegally purchased with her sister as infants, exposing a corrupt doctor's two-decade-long operation. The narrative begins with the author's six-year-old self grappling with the harsh truth of adoption, navigating a tumultuous childhood marked by societal prejudice. As the story unfolds, her father discloses the unsettling details of their purchase, setting the stage for a transformative journey. Hiring a private investigator becomes a catalyst for the author, leading her to a career in sleuthing as she relentlessly seeks the truth amidst dead ends. Despite the absence of justice, her quest to expose the doctor's operation offers closure and leaves readers with a profound mix of sorrow and admiration for human resilience.
This remarkable book delves into the unimaginable challenges faced by adoptees, thrust into circumstances beyond their control. The narrative takes an even more harrowing turn as the protagonist discovers the shocking revelation that they were sold. Beyond merely recounting the atrocities humans can inflict upon one another, this story becomes a poignant exploration of discovering peace in unexpected places.
The narrative weaves together the threads of encounters with individuals who play crucial roles in the protagonist's life, offering lessons and love in equal measure. The writing captivates the reader, immersing them in a rollercoaster of emotions — from profound empathy and heartache to tears, hope, and moments of disappointment and joy. The book serves as a visceral experience that resonates with the human condition.
This heartfelt recommendation encourages readers to delve into the pages, immersing themselves in a journey that encompasses the full spectrum of human emotion. May this narrative inspire more reunions and reconciliation, fostering not only personal peace but also advocating for justice in the realm of illegal adoption. Here's to a world where everyone affected by such circumstances finds solace and resolution.
A riveting and captivating narrative, this book is so compelling that I would have devoured it in a single sitting if not for my responsibilities. A highly engaging non-fiction piece, it offers a profound exploration that might be somewhat distressing and potentially triggering for those with personal experiences in adoption or abortion, as it delves into real instances of these situations. The writing is clear and adopts a conversational style, making it feel as if the author is personally sharing the story with the reader. The book has left me both enlightened and intrigued about Hicks babies, sparking a keen curiosity to delve deeper into this topic.