Jamie shares her harrowing journey as a birth mother during the Baby Scoop Era, a period following World War II up to the Roe v. Wade decision, when many young women who got pregnant outside of marriage were coerced into giving up their babies for adoption. She details her struggles with obtaining contraception as an unmarried woman, leading to her first pregnancy, which she terminated through an illegal and dangerous procedure. Jamie describes her second pregnancy, which resulted in the birth of her son, whom she relinquished for adoption due to societal pressures and lack of support.

The emotional weight of her story is evident as she recounts living in a home for unwed mothers, the birth of her son, and her decision not to see him to avoid further emotional attachment. This decision was influenced by her circumstances: no job, money, or support system, and divorced parents who were unable and/or unwilling to provide the support she would have needed as a single mother in the 1960s. Years later, Jamie initiated a reunion with her son, which has been fraught with challenges and misunderstandings. Her son’s perception of being unwanted and abandoned has led to a strained and painful relationship, highlighting the complexity and long-lasting impact of adoption on both birth parents and adoptees.