Dear dad, mum, brothers and sisters of my biological family
I am Tian – your daughter and sister.
I wanted to write this letter to let you know yesterday was my birthday and I could really do with a hug from my family and for my mother and father to wipe away my tears.
I was born on 31 December, 1971 in Phan Thiet Hospital or Phan Thiet City Hospital, Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan Province, Viet Nam. It was possibly also known as the Binh Thuan General Hospital (Trường Chinh, Phú Tài, Phan Thiết, Bình Thuận, Vietnam).
The birth name on my documents is Hien Thi Vo.
My biological father’s name is Tu Van Vo.
My biological mother’s name is Du Thi Nguyen.
I was Baptised at The Cathedral Phan Thiet (587 Trần Hưng Đạo, Đức Long, tp. Phan Thiết, Bình Thuận, Vietnam).
I spent time at the Notre Dame Orphanage, currently a Centre for Children with Disabilities Thi Nghe (180 Xô Viết Nghệ Tỉnh Phường 21 Quận Bình Thạnh; Ho Chi Minh City).
My age was approximately 3.5 years old when I was airlifted as part of Operation Babylift in April 1975 from Viet Nam to Australia.
I then spent time approximately 1 year at Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
I was adopted by my adoptive parents from South Australia, Australia.
I can accept the law of physics that says the delicate ferns reclining in the shade, ripe huckleberries clustering indiscreetly and hopeful seedlings will feel their way towards the sun’s light. I need to believe they feel it without seeing or hearing it.
Because of you, I brought into this world my radiant, bright, funny and brilliant baby son – your grandson, your nephew. I witnessed his first smile, kiss, hugs, jokes, musical instrument performance, bike-ride tricks, country and state football game, country and state cricket game, Dojo Karate competition, school play, mate play-day, girlfriend kiss and relationship, job and step towards his ambitious career. I am so proud of him.
Dad and mum, I hope to make you proud of me!
Because of you, I have met and fallen in love with the most loving, compassionate and trusting person on Earth. He is my boyfriend, best friend and soul mate.
Because of you, I have volunteered with variety of community organisations for 15 years.
Because of you, I have met amazing human beings, intercountry and domestic adoptee brothers and sisters, DNA matched distant cousins and friends.
Because of you, I am kind, empathetic, curious, creative, resilient and REAL.
I am looking forward to reuniting with my dad, mum, brothers and sisters one day. Please contact me or send out a sign out to the Universe to let me know that you are thinking of me.
Love
Your biological daughter.
Tian