Free Republic

It’s about a life-altering discovery that Disbrow made – 77 years after she was raped. It’s not the type of thing you talk about, so Disbrow never did. But the crime – committed by a stranger during a school picnic – resulted in a child whom Disbrow was forced to give up. And that child, well, Disbrow never stopped thinking about her. Disbrow wrote her letters, prayed for her. And, for decades, every May 22, Disbrow would pull out a small photograph and silently wish her daughter a happy birthday. Disbrow married and had other children. By 2006, she had...

For almost a century, Minka Disbrow tried to find out what became of the baby girl she gave up for adoption after being raped as a teenager. She hoped, but never imagined, that she would see her daughter Betty Jane again. Her only connection to the child was a black and white photograph of the baby bundled up in blankets shortly after she was born. Then in 2006, Mrs Disbrow, who turned 100 years old at the end of last month, received a call from Brian Lee who turned out to be her grandson. He then asked if she'd like...

In 1928, 16-year-old Minka Disbrow was on a picnic in the woods when she was assaulted and raped. Suddenly, this innocent farm girl was pregnant and terrified. The baby was secretly born, named Betty Jane, and placed for adoption. For decades, Minka wrote letters trying to receive updates on her daughter. She kept loving and praying for Betty Jane, even though she never thought they’d meet again. Nearly 80 years later, Minka whispered a prayer: “Lord, I’d like to see Betty Jane before I die. I promise I won’t bother her or interrupt her life. I just want to lay...