A bewildering maze

Dr Fahim Chand | Monday October 16, 2023 06:00

This former US Marine had now transitioned into a successful attorney and was blessed with a family of his own, including two young daughters. He cherished the story of his adoption, one spun with love and the promise of a brighter future. However, the tranquil narrative began to unravel in 2012, just before his deployment to Afghanistan. Thyden’s adoptive mother handed him his adoption records, and as he scrutinised the documents, he stumbled upon a bewildering maze of contradictions.

The accounts diverged wildly: some stated he had no known parents, while others offered a name and address for his biological mother. Yet another narrative insisted he had no living relatives, and yet another claimed he had been adopted mere days after birth. Confusion reigned as one document asserted he was given up for adoption at the tender age of two. For years, Thyden had harboured questions about his origins, but uncertainty had held him back from seeking answers.

It wasn’t until his wife came across the story of Scott Lieberman, another Chilean adoptee discovering his stolen past, that Thyden embarked on his quest for truth. A non-profit organisation named “Nos Buscamos” (We Search for Each Other), dedicated to reuniting stolen babies with their biological families, became his guiding light.

Chile’s dark history revealed the horrifying truth behind many adoptions during General Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship from 1973 to 1990.

Babies from both affluent and humble backgrounds were funnelled into adoption agencies, either given up by families in secret or stolen outright. Priests, nuns, doctors, nurses and others conspired in this sinister web of illegal adoptions, driven largely by profit. Chilean officials believe that the number of stolen babies could reach into the thousands, but investigations have lagged, and many involved have passed away.

Thyden’s journey toward the truth gained momentum when he reached out to “Nos Buscamos.” A swift response from the organisation’s director, Constanza del Río, led to a DNA test on April 17. With the assistance of MyHeritage, an online genealogy company, Thyden found a match within weeks. Del Río’s next call was to María Angélica González, a woman who had mourned her son’s alleged death for decades, unaware that he had been taken from her at birth. The revelation left Thyden with mixed emotions. While he rejoiced in discovering his true identity, he couldn’t help but feel profound sadness for what his biological mother had endured. They had never met, never embraced, their connection severed for 42 long years. But after three agonising months, Thyden finally journeyed to Chile to reunite with his biological mother. In mid-August, in the southern city of Valdivia, their long-awaited embrace marked a poignant moment. “Hola, mamá!” he uttered, holding her for the very first time.

Thyden’s newfound family in Valdivia had organised a special birthday celebration, featuring 42 balloons symbolising the years of separation. Popping them one by one, he finally felt like the missing puzzle piece that had been found. It was a reunion that felt natural, as if no time had passed, binding him to his rightful place. Yet, amidst the joy, Thyden couldn’t escape the pain. He recognised that his adoptive parents had also been victims of deception, their intentions pure when they sought to adopt through a reputable agency. They had never imagined they were unwittingly part of a web of illegal adoptions, motivated by profit. Thyden mused on the profound questions of what might have been. He pondered whether his life’s trajectory was shaped by circumstance or whether his core identity would have led him down a similar path. It was his five-year-old daughter who offered him a unique perspective, reminding him that even in the darkest moments, love and family could emerge.

For Thyden, who referred to his American adoptive mother as “mom” and his Chilean biological mother as “mamá,” the wisdom of a child reaffirmed the importance of love, no matter the circumstances. In the midst of the tumultuous whirlwind that shrouded Thyden’s adoption story in chaos and deceit, an astonishing paradox emerged: clarity and the unlikeliest of loves blossomed. It raises the question of whether there exists an unseen benevolent force, a cosmic maestro orchestrating the intricate balance of our lives. A master architect who seems to deftly steer each of us through the labyrinthine twists and turns, artfully guiding our very existence, ensuring we sidestep the concealed perils lurking in the shadowed recesses of even the most seemingly benign corners of our journey. And yet while we rejoice in the tapestry of Thyden’s miraculous memoir, it also casts a stark light on the darker recesses of the human soul. It lays bare the unbridled nature of evil which recognises no boundaries or restraint. A child, the most sacred of the Divine’s gifts, torn from a mother who had been led to believe her child had perished. Orchestrated for the sordid pursuit of profit. In the face of such profound darkness, we find solace in our fervent prayers for divine guidance and unwavering protection.