They said my baby died; 42 years later he emailed me

Diane Sheehan was in her early 20s working as an au pair in Canada when she fell in love with a neighbour and became pregnant – only realising months later after moving to Sydney on her own. Diane's strict Roman Catholic upbringing in New Zealand meant she didn't tell anyone what had happened, including her family – the shame of being a single and unwed mother was too great for her. When she gave birth in hospital the nurses told her that her baby had died, and took him away. Distraught, she threw herself into her studies, qualifying as a veterinary surgeon and telling no-one what happened to her. Until, 42 years later when she was in her early 60s, she received an email from a man saying he was her son. Diane soon discovered that she had been part of Australia's former policy of forced adoptions that affected around 250,00 others. What followed was a moving reunion with her son and a focus on forging a loving relationship with him and his family.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: May Cameron

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(Photo: Diane Sheehan is in her early 20s, wearing white trousers and a pale yellow top with her hair tied up in pigtails. She is sitting on a brown horse, casually holding the reigns, smiling directly at the camera. The horse looks out to a paddock behind it. Credit: Diane Sheehan)