Donor conception presents both opportunities and challenges related to identity and connection. Many donor-conceived individuals (DCP) face feelings of powerlessness due to limited knowledge of their biological origins, which can lead to anxiety. The Donor Sibling Registry (DSR), created in response to a personal experience of a parent, serves as a platform for DCP to connect with biological relatives. By facilitating these connections, individuals embark on a journey to reclaim their narratives, find their family histories, and establish a sense of belonging despite the challenges imposed by the gamete selling industry.
When my donor-conceived son was 6 years old, and with the most serious expression, he said to me, "I want to know who my biological father is." Oh my god, I thought, of course you do! What have I done? What do I do!?
Because the gamete selling industry mandates a child be kept from their genetic relatives for at least 18 years, for many donor-conceived people (DCP), this journey often begins with a sense of "fate," a feeling of being cast into a narrative with missing chapters.
The DSR is an online charity organization where anyone in the donor family can make mutually desired contact with their (or their child's) close genetic relatives. It currently has more than 96,500 global members.
However, they (and their parents) can choose to embark on a journey of "destiny," reclaiming their stories by searching for, making connections, and filling in the missing pieces of their family history and identity.
#donor-conception #family-identity #genetic-history #donor-sibling-registry #connection-and-belonging
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