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'I feel compassion for my mother, she did the best she could': Man abandoned at birth finds biological family 65 years later

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • David Stevenson, abandoned as a baby in London in 1960, has found his biological family after 65 years.
  • His search was aided by a police report and the "Long Lost Family" television program, which used DNA analysis and genealogical research.
  • Stevenson expressed compassion for his biological mother, Petra, who traveled to England and became pregnant with him at age 19, and learned she passed away in 2010.

After 65 years of searching, David Stevenson, who was abandoned as an infant in London, has finally connected with his biological family. Born in 1960, Stevenson was found as a newborn in the hallway of a London apartment building and later adopted by the Stevenson family.

As a child, I knew I was a foundling. My adoptive parents had told me. But it wasn't until I had my own children that I started thinking about my origins.

— David StevensonReflecting on his early awareness of his origins.

His quest for origins intensified after he had children of his own. Early attempts to find information were hampered by sparse details in his adoption records. A breakthrough came when his wife discovered a police report detailing the day he was found. The officer who attended the scene, Tegwin Curl, remembered the case vividly, describing it as one of the most emotional moments of her career.

It was like finding a needle in a haystack.

— David StevensonDescribing the difficulty of his search.

The search eventually identified his biological mother, Petra, who was born in the Netherlands in 1940. She had traveled to England at age 19 and became pregnant with David. While it remains unclear if she knew she was pregnant upon arrival in London, she carried the pregnancy to term and reportedly had support during that time.

The police officer said she had never forgotten David's rescue. It was one of the most emotional moments of her career.

— Julie StevensonRecounting the police officer's memory of finding David.

Stevenson's story was further advanced by the ITV television program "Long Lost Family." Utilizing DNA analysis and genealogical research, the show helped identify Petra. Sadly, she passed away in 2010. However, Stevenson has since connected with his biological relatives, who have helped bring his mother back into his life through shared memories. He expressed deep compassion for her, stating, "I feel compassion for her, she did the best she could." He believes she may have made arrangements for his care that went awry, leading to his placement in a facility.

I feel compassion for her, she did the best she could.

— David StevensonExpressing his feelings towards his biological mother.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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