Forgotten Mothers UK
General => Articles => Topic started by: Forgotten Mother on July 21, 2024, 03:41:22 PM
-
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13640747/Inside-Noel-Radfords-adoption-story.html
Inside Noel Radford's heartbreaking adoption story: Star of 22 Kids and Counting began search for his biological parents after his daughter's health scare
Noel Radford was adopted when he was just ten days old in January 1971
READ MORE: Mother-of-22 Sue Radford hits out at husband Noel after he scratched their £40,000 motorhome
By Gina Kalsi For Mailonline
Published: 14:03, 21 July 2024 | Updated: 14:03, 21 July 2024
Many know Noel Radford as the smiling, hardworking and doting patriatch of Britain's biggest family and star of the television sow 22 Kids and Counting on Channel 5. He is married to Sue Radford and the pair, based in Morecambe, Lancashire, met when she was aged seven and he was 11. She then became pregnant with their first child Christopher, when she was just 14 and Noel was 18. The couple are both adopted and whilst Sue did not want to know about her birth parents, Noel was intrigued to find out more about them after his daughter fell ill. He was born on Christmas Eve in 1970, was adopted when he was just ten days old in January 1971 by his mother and father. During the third series of the show, Noel opened up about some of the ways in which being adopted had affected his adult life including a lack of knowledge about his biological family's health history. This issue reared its head when their teenage daughter Ellie was taken to the doctors for tests after she was not feeling well. Her liver function was high and medic suspected that she may have Gilbert's Syndrome, a hereditary condition that is passed through genetics. During the third series of the show, Noel opened up about some of the ways in which being adopted had affected his adult life - including a lack of knowledge about his biological family's health history. This issue reared its head when their teenage daughter Ellie was taken to the doctors for tests after she was not feeling well. Her liver function was high and medic suspected that she may have Gilbert's Syndrome, a hereditary condition that is passed through genetics. Sue said: 'Basically Gilbert's Syndrome is hereditary, it's genetic, it can get passed on, so she said either I'm a carrier or Noel is a carrier. It might mean that some of the other children might have it.'
Ellie's result prompted both Noel and Sue to get tested themselves for the condition, as none of them know their family history. After the tests were conducted, Noel admitted that he wanted to find out more about his biological side of the family. He said on the show: 'After doing that test it's got me thinking, we're both adopted and we know absolutely nothing about our medical history at all. I'd quite like to find out more about my family, where I'm from, just anything about myself.'
Sue said she did not want to find out more about her biological parents, whereas Noel said he was interested to dig deeper into his family background. Noel said: 'I don't really know much about my biological family so something like this will shed a bit of light about what the history might bring, health wise. It might tell me a bit more about who I am, where I'm from, possibly my birth parents. Now as I'm getting older, I do think about it a bit more often.'
The father said he didn't really think about his birth parents when he was younger and saw his adoptive parents as 'mum and dad'. Noel's DNA test showed he had been born in Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport and his birth date was the same as his birthday. He fought back tears as he said: 'I don't even know why I don't like talking about it. I just don't like it. I have a lot of respect for my mum and dad. To be honest, I'm glad I was adopted, otherwise I wouldn't have the life I have now.'
Noel's adoptive father said he was supportive of the search and told him that his birth mother was a 'young mum'. My birth mum was 16, so she's about 68 or 69 now. There's a good chance she's still alive and kicking. Hopefully she is. I don't know the situation she was in. I do wonder sometimes, especially when it's my birthday, I can't imagine that she doesn't at some point in the day, think about me.'
At the end of the series, Noel reveals that the document has his real birth mother's name on it, perhaps hinting that he will continue his search. In the couple's joint memoir, The Radfords: Making Life Count, which was published in February, Noel gave an update about his birth mother. He wrote: 'My birth mum is still none the wiser that I have been looking to find out more information about her, unless she watches us on the TV and she’s maybe put two and two together. I don’t think she would have been told details about who adopted me, where they were from and what my surname was going to be. I think things are completely different now compared with the time I was adopted. I could be wrong but I think that in the 1970s after you were given up, that was it. Though there may have been a six-week cooling off period, where you could change your mind and have the child back but then there was no going back after that.'
22 Kids and Counting continues with season five airing on 21 July.
What is Gilbert's syndrome?
People who have this syndrome have slightly higher than normal levels of bilirubin build up in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance found naturally in the blood. It forms as a by-product when old red blood cells are broken down.
Symptoms of Gilbert's disease:
Jaundice, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes
Around 1 in 3 people with Gilbert's syndrome do not experience any symptoms at all. People with Gilbert's syndrome often find there are certain triggers that can bring on an episode of jaundice. These may include:
Being dehydrated
Going without food for long periods of time (fasting)
Drinking too much alcohol (keep within the recommended weekly units of alcohol)
Being ill with an infection
Heavy physical exertion
Not getting enough sleep
Having surgery
Having a period
Source: NHS