Adopted at Five Months, Battling a Rare Disease for a Decade: "I Will Survive and Fight to Find My Birth Mother" [Forgotten Children] ⑤

"I don't think I'm going to die tomorrow, but you never know what might happen. What is clear is that the problem is not just with one or two organs, but with my entire body."

Alice Anderson (Korean name Kang Buja), who was born on July 5, 1972, was adopted to Norway when she was five months old. She only learned as an adult that she had been born with a single kidney. This fact was not recorded in her adoption paperwork prepared by Holt Children’s Services.

Photos and documents from the adoption of Alice Anderson (Korean name Kang Buja), born on July 5, 1972, and adopted to Norway. She was born with a single kidney, but her adoption papers prepared by Holt Children’s Services state "No physical defects." Provided by the individual

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In an interview with this publication on the 24th, Anderson said that after being diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease, in 2016, she began experiencing abnormal symptoms in several organs. She stated, "I have no way of knowing whether these diseases are because I was born prematurely, or because my biological mother attempted an abortion and ingested toxic substances during pregnancy." Norwegian doctors say it is difficult to begin medication without her genetic information, especially as she may require an organ transplant.

"I have pulmonary fibrosis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, microscopic colitis, asthma, and allergies, and the tissues around my organs are hardening. The doctors say they've never seen a case like mine. I can't travel, and my daily life is extremely restricted."

Since 2018, Anderson has continuously requested the disclosure of information about her biological parents and family medical history from adoption agencies, including the Central Adoption Agency (now the National Center for the Rights of the Child), for seven years, but to no avail.

Emails exchanged between Anderson and the adoption agencies show that in 2019, the Central Adoption Agency confirmed that Anderson's birth mother was living with her female sibling (Anderson's aunt). At the time, an agency staff member informed Anderson, "We reached your aunt, but she said, 'Don't contact me anymore,' and refused further communication."

In April 2024, the National Center for the Rights of the Child stated, "The disclosure of your birth mother's personal information is subject to legal review," adding, "This process will be very long and complicated." In the final email from the Center to Anderson in October that year, it was stated, "Your biological mother contacted us directly. She said she has never sent a child for adoption and requested that we cease all further contact." Anderson expressed doubts about whether the Center had actually communicated with her birth mother and said she was not convinced.

On the 24th, Alice Anderson, a Norwegian adoptee, participated in an online interview with this publication. She said, "According to Article 36, Paragraph 3 of the Special Adoption Act, I can receive health information without my biological mother's consent," adding, "Many adoptees give up halfway because the process is so difficult, but I will not stop fighting." Screenshot of the online interview scene.

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There are three pieces of information Anderson wants to confirm: her family medical history; the reason and background for having only one kidney; and, if necessary, whether it would be possible to receive an organ transplant from her biological parents or siblings.

According to Article 36, Paragraph 3 of the Special Adoption Act, if there are special reasons such as medical necessity, adoption information may be disclosed regardless of whether the biological parents consent. Since July of last year, the Special Adoption Act has been divided into the Domestic Special Adoption Act and the International Adoption Act, and this provision is now specified in Article 33, Paragraph 3 of the Domestic Special Adoption Act. The same provision is applied to international adoptions.

Anderson also sought help from the Norwegian government. In June 2020, she sent a letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister, asking the government, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council at the time, to work on laws and systems that guarantee the right of overseas adoptees to know about their biological families.

However, two months later, the response from the Norwegian Ministry of Children and Families stated, "For overseas adoptions, the anonymity of the birth parents is determined by the laws of the child’s country of origin." Anderson remarked, "I felt like I was fighting completely alone, with neither the sending country nor the receiving country taking responsibility," adding, "No one is taking responsibility for the adoption process at that time."

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Anderson said that although the search for adoption information has left her scarred and distrustful, she will not give up her efforts to secure her right to know.

"I am a fighter, I have to survive, I have to endure. I believe I have the right to access documents about myself-my story, my history. I also know that the people at the adoption agency today are not the same people who made mistakes in the past. But for that very reason, I believe they should provide us with those documents."

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