S1 EP3 (2023 Series) An Adoption Story: Mother of three Anya Gibson, lives right down in the far south of New Zealand. She was adopted at the age of four from a regional orphanage (Number 12) inside of Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Prior to her adoption, she was looked after by her grandmother but found out later that she was placed into the orphanage due to her grandmother not being able to look after her. She has managed to track down connections but there are still many questions unanswered. She shared with me her journey from the very beginning.

This is her story.

// Watch more An Adoption Story Episodes for the 2023 Series //
EP 12 Felicita:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Felicita's Jo...  
EP 11 Marina:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Marina's Adop...  
EP 10 Ivan:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Iván's Discov...  
EP 9 Nina:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Nina's Story ...  
EP 8 ZacharyVictor:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Adopted from ...  
EP 7 Katya Reach:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Ukrainian  A...  
EP 6 Alexei D’Ath:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Alexei's Stor...  
EP 5 Vanya:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Vanya's Lost ...  
EP 4 Alex Kuch:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Alex's Early ...  
EP 3 Anya: Watching Now!
EP 2 Vika:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Viktoria's Se...  
EP 1 Alexei:    • An Adoption Story (S1): Alexei's Jour...  

You can now watch the new 2024 series over on my YouTube channel!

Welcome! Here on my channel I share my journey, topics for adoptees, my vlogs, and support for others adopted, including their stories and journeys with my An Adoption Story series.

As a RussianNew Zealand adoptee, adopted at the age of two from an orphanage in Arkhangelsk, Russia, I share what I've been learning on my journey with my upbringing here in New Zealand, my current life, and how I connected with my birth family. I also share what my bloodline means for me with those connections from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

Be sure to Subscribe if you haven't yet! You can also support my An Adoption Story series by clicking on 'Join' or by visiting https://www.youtube.com/alexgilbert/join. Every bit of your support helps. It means a lot!

Find Me on Social Media:
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Facebook:   / nzalexgilbert  

Visit I'm Adopted
I’m Adopted https://imadopted.org/
Facebook:   / imadoptedorg  
Donate to I'm Adopted through Givealittle: https://givealittle.co.nz/org/imadopt...

00:00 Introduction
00:35 Titles
02:57 Anya's Childhood
05:10 Revisiting Grandmas Home
08:05 Keeping Details Prior to her Adoption
09:55 Back to NZ with Two New Siblings
10:58 Helping Anya find her Birth Family
13:01 Family Connections for Anya's Own Children
15:08 Missing Siblings in Russia
17:27 Anya's Journey for the Future
19:31 Guilt that Birth Families May Hold
21:10 Life in Invercargill and What's Next
23:06 Advice for Others Wanting to Search
24:55 Ending
25:33 Revisiting a Childhood Photo Together and Bloopers