Thank you for writing this. I am an adoptive parent, with kids adopted starting in the early 90's and as recently as 2009, older kids from the foster care system. Fortunately things are changing, and sometimes even when systems try to prevent it, openness can be created. We were able to connect with several of our kids birth families over the years, sharing birthdays and other gatherings. One of my daughters by adoption so needed that connection to her birth mother and although their relationship has struggled through the years I know how much they needed to know one another and spend time together. There is no doubt in my mind how important that connection to family of origin is and whenever it can be maintained, it should be. Much harder to try to open doors after decades of lost relationship.