The Journey Begins

My name is Jennifer Coffey. I was born in Armenia, Quindio, Bogota, Colombia and was adopted at the age of 2 and 8 months by a lovely Irish couple, Michael and Carole Coffey. I was told that I was born on the 29th of October 1994 and that my name was Jennifer David before the adoption.

My birth Mothers name is/was Luz Mary Loaiza, I was given no information on my Father. As far as I’m aware it was a family member that brought me to hospital San Juan de Dios in Quindio due to certain circumstances. It was that hospital who went on to present me to the family defender of minors of ICBF (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar) on the 25th of June 1996.

The ICBF notified my birth mother. Within my documents it states that my birth mother came back to see if I could get returned to her but was not allowed due to not having evidence to credit of necessary conditions to obtain the return of me, her daughter. She did not return after that which was when they declared me as abandoned and placed me into the adoption programme.

I was then placed in to a foster home, as we are unsure of the exact location at the moment I can only assume that it was also based in Armenia, Quindio. In 1997 I left foster care to begin my new life, with my new family in Ireland.

It is 21 years later, and it is now that I am beginning a new journey in my life, and unknown journey. In hopes to find my birth mother or relatives, to connect with my roots and discover my culture which is Colombia.

In the photo above you will see a picture that my adoptive parents met me in for the first time. Both the dress and bows are very sentimental and I can only hope someone might recognise them if they see this. 

Sadly enough, the most painful goodbyes are the ones that are left unsaid and never explained.

– Jonathan Harnisch