My name is Stefani, and I am a 30-something-year-old adoptee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! (Millennials represent!) I have been in reunion since 2019 and it hasn’t been an easy road, to say the least. I was born in Arizona in 1987 and had a closed adoption at 8 days old. Growing up in the small town of Janesville, Wisconsin, I always knew I was adopted and was trained from an early age by my adopted parents to be able to talk about it with ease. This is something I always thought was commendable in my earlier years because more often than not you hear of lies and deceit surrounding adoption. I grew up as Laura, Stefani is my birth name that I have recently taken back.

In April of 2019, everything changed; lies and abuse from my adopted family began to unravel when my adoptive mom told me (a month before my wedding) that she had always known I had a full blood sister who was not given up, and they decided to keep that information from me. Once my view on my own adoption and family changed, my whole life changed.  

Today I am working towards healing, finding myself, and telling my story.

I am passionate about adoption, and the number one thing I want to drive home is that ALL ADOPTION IS TRAUMA!!!! We can survive it and heal if adoptive parents are educated and open to doing what is best for their Adoptee. 

Please reach out and ask me any questions about Adoption, my story, or anything else! Thanks for being here and supporting my journey and the adult Adoptee community!