A bewildering maze

This former US Marine had now transitioned into a successful attorney and was blessed with a family of his own, including two young daughters. He cherished the story of his adoption, one spun with love and the promise of a brighter future. However, the tranquil narrative began to unravel in 2012, just before his deployment to Afghanistan. Thyden’s adoptive mother handed him his adoption records, and as he scrutinised the documents, he stumbled upon a bewildering maze of contradictions.

The accounts diverged wildly: some stated he had no known parents, while others offered a name and address for his biological mother. Yet another narrative insisted he had no living relatives, and yet another claimed he had been adopted mere days after birth. Confusion reigned as one document asserted he was given up for adoption at the tender age of two. For years, Thyden had harboured questions about his origins, but uncertainty had held him back from seeking answers.