Searching for the child I placed for adoption in Kyiv, 2005

In 2005, I made the hardest decision of my life. I placed my daughter for adoption in Kyiv. There is not a single day that goes by when I don't think about them. The circumstances were beyond my control. Poverty, family pressure, and a society that offered no support for someone in my situation made the choice feel inevitable. The adoption was handled by a hospital-based adoption program. I was told the family was from United States, that they were good people, that my child would have opportunities. My daughter would be approximately 21 years old now. Every birthday is bittersweet. I celebrate silently, hoping they're thriving. If you were adopted from Kyiv around 2005, if the details match, please reach out. I don't want to disrupt your life. I just want to know you're okay. The holidays are the hardest — their empty chair at the table speaks volumes.