(In journal 182, Chris Stewart wrote about how she became reunited with her daughter who she had to give up for adoption as a baby. FAP brought them back together. This is the daughter's story - editor).

I was born in an unmarried mothers home at 'The Haven' near Reading on 17th January 1966. At six weeks old I was handed to my adoptive parents.

I knew from an early age about my natural mother, however my parents instilled into me that I was special. But I always wondered who I looked like, and I asked more questions in relation to my natural mother and her family. My adoptive parents had a natural daughter when I was 4 years old - I loved her but was very jealous as she looked so like her mother.

Life carried on and at the age of 14 we had a letter from St. Marks Hospital explaining about Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP), but it was all double Dutch to me. I went to the hospital with mom, the doctors explained it all. but it was too much for me to take in. I was told my natural mother knew nothing of this until a few years after she had me and was desperate that I was found, so I knew then that she loved me. I went to pieces, became resentful of my parents, and pretended to my friends that I had met my natural mother - there was something missing in my life.

At 16 I became pregnant, and my parents said they would disown me unless I had a termination - I was 4 months when this happened. I left home after this to become a nanny/mothers help, and tried to lead a normal life. At the age of 25 I underwent a total colectomy with ileo-anastomosis for FAP and so wished my natural mother had been around.

A while later I met my future husband Tony. We both wanted a family and I needed more information about my natural family. In December 1998 I phoned Kay Neale at the hospital's polyposis unit - she needed written permission for my details to be passed over to Chris Stewart, my natural mother. Three days later Kay had contacted her, and that evening Chris phoned me. At last I was speaking to my real mother - we had a wonderful conversation, I felt I knew her, and my life seemed complete.

Two weeks later Tony and I traveled from Devon to Reading to meet Chris, her husband Jim, and my half brother Andrew. I was terrified and excited all at the same time. Although hoping it would work out for the best, Chris had told me that if we didn't get on, I could go back home at least knowing we had met. When we did meet, we stared at each other and kept laughing. Tony said he could see an older me! Chris was worried that I would resent her for giving me away and passing FAP on, but I would have never found her if I had not had inherited it.

Since meeting Chris I have had two boys. I have a brilliant relationship with my natural mother and her family, as she does with my adoptive parents. My natural mother may not have reared me but our mannerisms are the same, we are so alike it's uncanny.

I have a few polyps already in my duodenum, so if I ever have to have a 'Whipples', or end up with an ileostomy, my natural mother will be here for me, as she has both of these operations in the last 3 years.

I will be forever indebted to Kay at St. Marks Hospital for finding me, and for eventually reuniting me with my natural mother. May I also add that my adoptive parents always prayed his would happen - they think an awful lot of Chris and her family.

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