An Adoption Story (S1): Ukrainian - American Adoptee Katya Reach Shares Her Emotional Story

*S1 EP7 (2023 Series) An Adoption Story:* Katya Reach was adopted from an orphanage in Donetsk, Ukraine at the age of four years old by her American parents. She was raised in Kansas to then moving to Oklahoma to study. She now lives her life in Tyler, Texas for her graduate studies. Katya has always wanted to learn more about her birth family growing up. And with her parents support, she started to make discoveries with the little pieces of information that she was given when she was adopted. Katya is also part of many online adoption communities, helping raise awareness through her online writings and blog including with our very own, I'm Adopted community. This is her story. The 2023 Series of An Adoption Story was supported by the team at MyHeritage. ----- *My Story* Welcome! Here on my channel, I share my personal journey as a Russian-New Zealand adoptee—adopted at two from Arkhangelsk, Russia—I also share my series An Adoption Story, a special series of mine, which shares the journeys of adoptees from around the world. Learn about my life as an adoptee, my upbringing in New Zealand, and the significance of embracing my roots—not only with those connections in Russia but also from Ukraine and Kazakhstan. ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9CEtZ8krbpJuiN5puov1ZfwOxsrnD8Si ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9CEtZ8krbpK192O8mJT9j-aQsyGH8J5I ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9CEtZ8krbpLCtFknSa9MhpB5Lq_DWljj *An Adoption Story* Explore incredible stories of adoptees, each with their own unique path. ➡︎ Season Two (2024-present) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9CEtZ8krbpIVV7Va6nZ-13keTpb-9r8O ➡︎ Season One (2022-2023) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9CEtZ8krbpK6QoPzCMpNRl6NUG6jb8kZ *Subscribe* Don't forget to Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR8uOUAkjb85A1khfPZUUWQ?sub_confirmation=1 *Connect With Me* ➡︎ Instagram: https://instagram.com/alexgilbert ➡︎ Facebook: https://facebook.com/nzalexgilbert *I'm Adopted* ➡︎ Website: https://imadopted.org/ ➡︎ Facebook: https://facebook.com/imadoptedOrg ➡︎ Instagram: https://instagram.com/imadoptedOrg I’m passionate about connecting with adoptees and sharing stories that matter. Follow along as I reflect on family, identity, and connection. 00:00 Introduction 03:55 Growing Up 06:42 Talking with Katyas Parents 10:05 Going Through Emotional Regulation 13:25 Studying and Helping Others 16:07 Finding Birth Family in Ukraine 19:30 Parents Support with Searching 21:38 Calling Katyas Birth Mother in Ukraine 23:44 Awareness in the Adoption Community 27:17 Life in Texas 29:26 Advice for Others Adopted 31:29 What's Next