A Donor Conceived Adult
Tiffany Gardner, an adult DCP
Tag: secrets
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Top Secret: When Donor Conceived People Need Security Clearance
Little known fact: I wanted to pursue a career in the FBI after law school but my terrible eyesight disqualified me from the outset. But if I had perfect eyesight today, I don’t know that I would even try to apply. I have at least two friends who have been through the security clearance process.
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A Georgia Bulldog Family
The Georgia Bulldogs are College Football National Champions, and my family is thrilled. I spent my freshman year at UGA before transferring to Miami University (Ohio) to be with my now-husband. But I had never been to a UGA football game–until I identified my biological father. I never shared this photograph publicly until the Dawgs
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The Sting of Rejection
Rejection from genetic family feels like being the kid nobody wants on the team. Do you remember the dread in PE when you were about to play a team sport and the students, not the teachers, would pick teams? I sure do. I remember the stress of standing on one side of the imaginary line
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This Ride is Exhausting
I was riding high for a couple of weeks. The Atlantic article came out, and in its wake I had doors open for more writing opportunities, podcast interviews, potential collaborations, and more. I was feeling good. Empowered. At peace. I told my therapist I felt as if the grief over my biological father was in
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The Need for Family Medical History
The waiting game. I’ve lost count of the number of moles I’ve had cut off and biopsied, but this week and next I will be waiting for the results to see whether one on my face is malignant or benign. When I was pregnant with my first son, a precancerous mole appeared on my ear
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Lost & Found
I lost myself trying to please everyone else. Now I’m losing everyone while I’m finding myself. – Unknown As someone who has gone public with family and friends about being donor conceived, I feel this deeply. Many donor-conceived people keep their status a secret for the protection of others, but secrecy denotes shame. Secrecy screams
A Donor Conceived Adult 