Success Stories
After 39 years of wondering, the birth mother of my son and I decided we should try to find him. I won't go into all the reasons we waited so long. But when we decided to proceed, I turned to the Internet to find out where to start. I explored a good number of search options and consultants and I became massively confused about the wide range of fees and the extreme range of search duration timelines I was informed about ("plan on up to a year" was a common refrain).
Everything changed when I got to Lisa's straightforward website. And it changed even more when I got to talk to her. She was very prompt in following up. She was encouraging, supportive and very knowledgeable. Her "No Find, No Fee" approach seemed almost too good to be true. And the contract for her services was direct, simple and very user friendly. As a lawyer, I was particularly impressed by that. Once I got Lisa the relevant information so she could commence working her magic, she delivered the stunning news that my son had been located within just 48 hours.
But that was not the end. Rather, it was just the beginning. Lisa recommended great resources about handling the reunion process. She was there by phone and email at all hours and even on weekends. Her guidance about what to say, how to say it and when to say it has been has been absolutely invaluable. And her support and sense of humor have made a very emotionally charged endeavor about as pleasurable as it could possibly be. At one critical juncture when I was extraordinarily stumped about certain aspects of the letter I was writing to establish a first connection with my son, Lisa's astute advice was, simply: "follow your instincts and your heart". She will not overwhelm you with words but she will skillfully guide you down the new path and you will feel like you are in good hands throughout the journey. And she will keep you smiling as you travel and that really helps.
Among the many amazing things about Lisa is her consummate generosity. She says that she does what she does because she loves it. That showed, and it was such a joy to be in the care of someone with that kind of an attitude. She gave so freely of her time, expertise and support.
For me, for us, this has been a very positive and magical experience. Lisa made it happen and she kept everything and everyone involved on track. My gratitude to her and my respect for her integrity and skill is immense and ongoing. I am deeply honored to recommend her. She will exceed your expectations in every way.
My name is Gene Sperring, an adoptive parent since 1969, and I have been acquainted with Lisa Vittori for the past year. Prior to meeting we have been on parallel, but separate paths carrying out successful searches for those lost to us in closed adoption. Our connection evolved as a result of working with and becoming dear friends with a special and wonderful woman, Colleen Buckner, who was, in my opinion, the premier searcher in California if not all of the US. She was called the Search Guru with good reason.
We were saddened that Colleen died so suddenly this last January; her passing is one that the adoption community from all over the country feels deeply. Because Colleen was aware of how little time she had left and wanted her work to thrive after her time, she asked Lisa and I to step in for her in some of the very active roles she had in the adoption community in California. With the American Adoption Congress Board's approval I took Colleen's place as their Northern California Representative. Colleen asked Lisa to take over her position of searcher because she was impressed with Lisa's solid skills and with her definite passion for this special task. Colleen came to see these qualities in Lisa as they worked together on their successful search for Lisa's own birth family.
Colleen and Lisa spent a good amount of time working by phone and email as Lisa Interned in this field learning Colleen's program and how to access effective contacts. In a very short time Lisa had her first solo success in searching and finding a family and helping them to reunite. She continues her work with great enthusiasm and confidence.
I therefore feel very sure in my recommendation of Lisa Vittori as a search consultant. I would offer her name to anyone I know who is seeking a family member who has been lost to them. Her skills, counseling abilities, her deep passion for this task, and of course, the fairness of her "No Find No Fee" are unmatched, in my opinion.
In my organizational roles in the adoption community I meet so many people who are Searching or who are planning to search. It gives me great pleasure to put them into Lisa's capable hands. I know that if the search goes well, their lives will be changed forever, and in so many good ways.
The Search Guru calling me to get my correct address was the best thing that ever happened to us regarding her finding our son. She is such a warm and caring person. We connected immediately. Our lives are so complete now for all of us. It has made us all so very happy.
The Search Guru helped us through the meeting of our son every step of the way...she was so right on with all the do's and don'ts. It is hard to explain how we feel, there is just simply joy in our lives everyday. Rick, our son was the missing link in our happy family, because his father and I got married many years ago, and had identical twin daughters, who now have a brother they never had growing up.
Thanks again Search Guru, you're the best!
My name is Laura Anne Mather and I commissioned the help of The Search Guru to find my birthmother. Once I contracted with her, it was only a matter of approximately 24 hours until I knew the name of the woman who had given birth to me 33 years prior.
I had a strong feeling that The Search Guru would find my birthmother. I had decided prior to my search that I would write the "I'm your biological daughter" letter. This way I would be prepared to send it once her location was known. I did not want to be writing such a letter at such an emotionally charged time. I felt that sending a letter was the best for my situation. I wanted her to be able to digest that fact that I was alive and well, and open to meeting her. However, I had also prepared myself for the worst. I had considered the fact that I may not be welcome, or that others may not know about me. I felt that those were her issues to deal with, and that she would respond to my letter if and when the time was right for her. Fortunately she responded with-in the same hour that she received my letter. We met for the first time the following day! So much to say, so little time. We live in the same city in California and have mutual friends. I have an older sister and a younger brother.
The day I met my birth mother, the discussion of finding my birth father arose. I gladly acknowledged that I would like to complete my search, however inquired as to what her thoughts were. She told me his name, and encouraged the search. She had not seen him in over 20+ years, so finding him may be a challenge.
The next day, I was sharing with one of my best friends of my recent experience of meeting Audrey. She asked what my fathers name was, I told her and she was stunned to find that my birth father had been friends with her parents since high school. Speaking of high school, my birth father has two sons, one of which was a sophomore while I was a senior at the same high school.
As you can see my experience has been like a fairytale!! I feel so blessed. I now know the two people who gave me life. And it has been incredible getting to know grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins.
I read quite a few books on the topic of searching, and quite honestly there isn't a book on the market that could have prepared me for the feelings I felt. You must be ready for all the right reasons. You need to prepare yourself incase it isn't a fairy tale. But you do deserve to know!!! The choice is yours, as to whether you want to open your heart and pursue am relationship. Get the answers to the questions you have asked yourself over and over for most of your life.
Now, there have certainly been growing pains as my family just tripled in size. It took a while for my husband to trust these people we now call family. My small children were definitely confused for a while. But as we just passed our 1-year anniversary, things have mellowed out, life is somewhat normal again, and I don't come home telling my husband- "Guess whom I am related to?" everyday.
Since my search, I have met people who definitely want to search. I have also met people who are adamant about not searching! If you are on the fence, and can't decide, ask yourself. Why not? Because I no longer watch for resemblances of every brunette that walks past me. I no longer wonder if Cancer runs in my family history. I no longer wonder why? All because I asked myself. Why not? If it's meant that The Search Guru should find her, she'll find her.
I am grateful to The Search Guru and her knowledge. Her professionalism literally changed my life!
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