The Editor, Sir:

My husband and I are Americans who lived in Port Antonio as Peace Corps volunteers from 1989-1991. It was challenging work, but we have wonderful memories of the beautiful island and lovely people of Jamaica.

We didn't just bring home memories, though. We adopted our son in Kingston when he was two months old. He was left on a doorstep in New Kingston as a newborn baby on June 25, 1990. We found him at Bustamante Children's Hospital, being well cared for by the nurses and other hospital staff. They named him Alex Jackson.

The woman who found our baby on her porch had once before assisted a pregnant helper woman in her neighbourhood to find adoptive parents in Canada for her unplanned baby. I like to think that whoever left our baby on this same step hoped that he, too, would have a better life than she could give him.

Our son, now 16 years old and almost six feet tall, often talks about and wonders who his birth parents were. We love and are proud of him; he's strong, handsome, musical and very funny. Somewhere in Kingston there is a woman who wonders whatever became of the baby she had to give up. I wish she - and the birth father - could see him now and be relieved and happy that he turned out so well.

Please respond

We would love to hear from anyone who thinks they might know something about the birth parents of our son, who was left as a newborn baby near Matilda's Corner in New Kingston. To prove the connection, please identify the name of the street where he was found. All blessings.

I am, etc.,

JILL GATWOOD

JillGat1@yahoo.com

Truman Street Clinic

625 Truman St. NE

Albuquerque, NM 87110

USA,Via Go-Jamaica