Australian radio DJ Ryan Jon is moving the world to tears this Mother’s Day after posting a series of videos in which he shares his adoption story, and the gratitude he feels in his heart for the birth mother who gave him the gift of life.
News.com.au is reporting on the video which has received over 2.8 million views and documents the story of Jon, a popular radio personality with Canberra’s Hit 104.7 morning show.
In the video, Jon explains that he doesn’t know much about his birth mother, except from the little bit she shared in a letter she left with him.
Her name is Julie and at the time, she was living in a share house when she became unexpectedly pregnant. In the letter, she said she wasn’t mature enough to be a good mother.
“She sort of implies that she didn’t have the best upbringing and she wanted to make sure that her child had every opportunity available, so she thought the best thing to do would be to give me up for adoption,” he said in the video.
Jon was fortunate to have been adopted at six weeks by Mandy and Rod, a couple from the Melbourne suburb of Eltham, who were unable to conceive. They received a phone call one day from someone who told them, “There’s a baby here, come and pick him up tomorrow.”
Jon was their only child and grew up in a stable and loving home.
“My parents were told they wouldn’t have children but now they’re my mum and dad. They’re awesome, they’ve given me a great life and I’ll love them forever,” he says.
Jon told news.com.au that he knows many women experience guilt after giving their babies up for adoption, and some adopted children feel abandoned, but he believes it was the best thing that could have happened to him.
“I don’t really know what it was like in 1987, but now if someone gets pregnant and doesn’t want to have a baby, they just don’t have a baby. The odds of me being born and having great parents was pretty slim, so I’m just lucky I guess.”
His biological mother gave him the most important gift of all – life!
“Considering all sacrifices and pain my birth mother must have gone through, both physically and emotionally, I’d simply like to say thank you.”
He’d love to meet his birth mother, even if just to tell her how grateful he is for the choice she made 30 years ago. Perhaps she doesn’t want to be found, or his sudden reappearance could complicate her life, but he still felt the need to post a special “thank you” message to her in time for “Mother’s Day.”
“It’s totally fine with me if I never meet her, even if I never know she gets the message,” said Jon. “I’d love for her to know how thankful I am.”
Reaction to Jon’s videos has been overwhelmingly positive, with thousands of people posting comments on his Facebook page.
Sandra wrote: “ Ryan, Go For It! I was reunited with my child whom I gave to an adopted family when I was 19. Her biological father wanted me to kill her. I choose life and love. I was reunited with her when she was 21 because of her amazing adopted Mother who helped her find me. We have had the most amazing time being part of her life and also been blessed with a son-in-law and two beautiful grandchildren. Stop wondering, take a deep breath and choose love. I wish for you every success in your search.”
Linsdey wrote: “This is my first Mothers Day as a mama and it is because of adoption! It took 6 years but we brought our beautiful baby home in December and I thank our birth mom every single day! Adoption is beautiful and is about love from all sides and everyone involved.”
Moira wrote what so many feel in their hearts when they watch this hip young man bear his heart and soul in the video.
“I am boldly assuming authority of all mothers in the world to say this: I’m proud of you son!!! You have brought the best of your birth mother and father, combined with the very best of your life mother and father, into our world … and oh how our world needs men exactly like you!!!! May you enjoy the happiest of Mothers’ Day ever Ryan. You rock.”
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