I am a Los Angeles news anchor. For decades I’ve been telling other people’s stories. In 2024 I started to uncover my own.
I’m known as Christine Devine. I anchor the 5 and 10pm news on Fox 11(KTTV). Devine, however, is my adopted name.
I was born to a single mother in the 1960’s. When she married Jack Devine he adopted me. I was three. He was a good dad and my family was fully functional. When we think of adoptees, those with their mom may not be the first to come to mind.
My mother and grandparents never discussed my birth father and any attempt at conversation was quickly curbed.
I learned through you, Jeff and The Innocent People Project, that we adoptees (with our varied stories) have longing questions.
You confirmed the very passion in my heart and soul to know “where we came from.” Our “chapter one” as you call it.
With a Caucasian milky white mother I could never hide that there was a story out there. Being brown skinned I stood out with my wavy hair, lanky arms, height and fuller lips.
I always knew my biological father was from Brazil. When people ask “where are you from” I jokingly start with “I was conceived in Brazil.” Then add in, “born in Buffalo, grew up in Arizona, career in California.”
It was the Brazil part for which I had few answers. The fantasy of Carnival and Copacabana Beach had me brag about being Brazilian. But who was this mystery man, my father?
In 2017, diagnosed with terminal cancer, my mom pointed the way to finding my father. It was a friend of hers from the Peace Corps who did the leg work. My adoptive father had long passed.
Contact with Brazil family was made and in September of 2024 we had our first zoom call! Pai (father in Portuguese) exclaimed with glee (in Portuguese) “Your face! You look just like my mother!”
I’ve asked all the questions but some will go unanswered as to why the split just before I was born and contact cut off. I’ll never meet the grandmother that my Rio family says I so resemble. We’ve lost time. Father is now 81.
I’ve flown to South America twice to see Pai. It warms my heart when he states “We want you home. Você é Brasileira!” (You are Brazilian!)
I’m known as Christine Devine. I anchor the 5 and 10pm news on Fox 11(KTTV). Devine, however, is my adopted name.
I was born to a single mother in the 1960’s. When she married Jack Devine he adopted me. I was three. He was a good dad and my family was fully functional. When we think of adoptees, those with their mom may not be the first to come to mind.
My mother and grandparents never discussed my birth father and any attempt at conversation was quickly curbed.
I learned through you, Jeff and The Innocent People Project, that we adoptees (with our varied stories) have longing questions.
You confirmed the very passion in my heart and soul to know “where we came from.” Our “chapter one” as you call it.
With a Caucasian milky white mother I could never hide that there was a story out there. Being brown skinned I stood out with my wavy hair, lanky arms, height and fuller lips.
I always knew my biological father was from Brazil. When people ask “where are you from” I jokingly start with “I was conceived in Brazil.” Then add in, “born in Buffalo, grew up in Arizona, career in California.”
It was the Brazil part for which I had few answers. The fantasy of Carnival and Copacabana Beach had me brag about being Brazilian. But who was this mystery man, my father?
In 2017, diagnosed with terminal cancer, my mom pointed the way to finding my father. It was a friend of hers from the Peace Corps who did the leg work. My adoptive father had long passed.
Contact with Brazil family was made and in September of 2024 we had our first zoom call! Pai (father in Portuguese) exclaimed with glee (in Portuguese) “Your face! You look just like my mother!”
I’ve asked all the questions but some will go unanswered as to why the split just before I was born and contact cut off. I’ll never meet the grandmother that my Rio family says I so resemble. We’ve lost time. Father is now 81.
I’ve flown to South America twice to see Pai. It warms my heart when he states “We want you home. Você é Brasileira!” (You are Brazilian!)
