Yesterday (Dec 22), I received an email from my birth dad’s brother, who informed me that my biological father is slipping away and slowly dying….

I was adopted at 3 days old, and have been a VanDusen my whole life. Just over 4 years ago, I made contact w/ my birth mother Patty, and our relationship has been wonderful ever since.

Patty seemed to contact the whole world about our re-connection, including contacting my birth dad’s parents. She received a Christmas Card from my birth dad in 2003, which she didn’t need, and she forwarded it onto me. There was a picture of Robert, my b-dad, in there….A small connection…

I’ve carried that card in my computer case, on trips all over the world. When I have a free moment, I’ll pull it out and look at it, and then try to figure out where to start on a letter to the man who gave me life. Then, the busyness of life takes over, and I just can’t think enough to figure out what to write. Kinda like now….

Now, he is dying. I feel an inextricable pull to get on an airplane and go out there to meet him, and say goodbye. His brother Ron has been taking care of him now. Sounds like cancer is what is eating away at him. I know he’s had a tough life, and that he is interested in spirituality. My prayer is that he will die in peace, and he will find that peace with God thru Christ.

No matter what, he will always be a small part of me. And for that, I am grateful.