Chicago Tribune

Genealogy sites are helping birth parents find children they placed for adoption — but not everyone wants to be found

DeAnn Link is searching for her daughter. She'd be 23 years old now.

Link said she gave birth in a Chicago hospital in 1996 at age 18, and the baby was placed with an adoptive family.

She has searched for her on LinkedIn, Google and through websites that allow birth parents and adoptees to register with contact information. But years of searching has led to nothing.

"It's kind of frustrating," she said. "I know she's out there, and I know I'll find her soon. The more I try, the more I put myself out there, the more she'll be able to see it."

Up next to try? A genealogy website. Link and other

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