Stephanie was born in the Chicago suburbs in June 1983 and adopted 4 days after birth. Her birth mother was 19 years old and was an employee of an attorney associate of her adoptive father's.  Through a private adoption arranged by the attorney, Stephanie was placed into a loving adoptive family with two biological children (and later one adopted sister and one biological brother), both of whom were affected by Canavan Disease and passed away when she was still a child—an experience that shaped her deep sense of empathy but also her perspective on family, belonging, and loss.
Today, Stephanie is a mother of two girls and a family law attorney, and the founder of her own practice, where she helps individuals and families navigate the often-complicated transitions of divorce, parenting, and rebuilding. She serves as a Guardian Ad Litem advocating for children and assisting adopted children whose parents are going through the divorce process.
Stephanie is now reunited with her birth mother and her two half-brothers—an experience that has profoundly impacted her and brought her "out of the fog" while also presenting complexities in her relationship with her adoptive family.
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Practically-Still-Virgin-Adoption-Memoir/dp/B0CYGQQR2K">Season 11: Adoptee Memoirs - books in order:</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Practically-Still-Virgin-Adoption-Memoir/dp/B0CYGQQR2K">Practically Still a Virgin by Monica Hall</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Get-Rid-Me/dp/1960462598">You Can't Get Rid of Me by Jesse Scott and Keri Ault</a>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Unspoken-Liz-Harvie/dp/183770046X">Unspoken by Liz Harvie</a>
<a href="https://www.adoptionthemakingofme.com/">Sign up to be part of our mailing list!</a>
Thank you to our Patreons! Join at the $10 level and <a href="https://patreon.com/themakingofmepodcast?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink">be part of our monthly ADOPTEE CAFE</a> community. The next meeting will be Saturday, December 6th, at 1 PM ET.
RESOURCES for Adoptees:
<a href="https://adopteesconnect.com/">Adoptees Connect</a>
<a href="https://www.adopteementorship.org/">Adoptee Mentoring Society</a>
<a href="https://adopteerightslaw.com/">Gregory Luce and Adoptee Rights Law</a>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/firesideadoptees/">Fireside Adoptees Facebook Group</a>
<a href="https://www.lizdebetta.com/">Dr. Liz Debetta: Migrating Toward Wholeness Movement</a>
<a href="https://mosesfarrow.com/">Moses Farrow - Trauma therapist and advocate</a>
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-8255 OR Dial or Text 988.
<a href="https://kristalparke.net/">Kristal Parke Because She Is Adopted</a> Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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