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Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008

Orphaned but not forgotten: America fascinated by story of babies abandoned near Modesto in '68

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SACRAMENTO — Under normal circumstances, James Face and Gloria Becerra would have been working at their respective jobs in their medical fields Wednesday afternoon.

But there has been nothing ordinary about the past few days.

Since the story of their abandonment as infants 40 years ago was published Monday in Sacramento and Modesto, the two have been overwhelmed by calls of support.

Even more amazing to them, they've heard from two people who were there when they were found in Northern San Joaquin Valley towns about 30 miles apart.

So instead of talking about health care at the office, they were sitting in Face's West Sacramento home telling their life stories to a "Good Morning America" TV crew for a segment tentatively scheduled to air Friday.

"It's all been overwhelming," Face said. "We were surprised by how many people were interested in what happened to us."

A month ago, Face and Becerra were strangers with similar birth stories. Now they share an emotional bond and a belief that they may be twins separated at birth.

Besides well- wishers, they have been surprised by the media's requests — including the "Today" show and People magazine — as well as offers of help. A medical group in Modesto has offered to run DNA tests for free.

Both were brought to tears by the concern expressed by those who helped save their lives in October 1968.

Tom Gallegos recalls every detail of the day that he found a baby boy.

Gallegos was 9 years old when he went shopping one afternoon with his mother at a Manteca department store and spotted a cardboard box in the corner of the parking lot. Thinking it might be good for grass clippings, Gallegos said he walked over and opened it. He found a baby wrapped in a yellow blanket. The infant was covered with ant bites.

"I yelled to my mother, and she picked him up and held him," said Gallegos, who lives in Hawthorne, Nev. The newborn was taken to a hospital, where Gallegos' mother visited him several times. After awhile, officials wouldn't allow her in because she wasn't related.

"For 40 years, we've wondered about him," Gallegos said Wednesday.

After Gallegos read about Face and Becerra on modbee.com, he called his mother, who kept newspaper clippings about the abandoned baby. "When she heard that he was OK, she burst out crying," he said. "She was so happy."

The same day the baby boy was found, Evelyn Welch's neighbor — Myrtle Stella, now deceased — found a baby girl on a country road in Oakdale, near a gate at the entrance to a ranch.

"There was such a commotion," said Welch, 94, who now lives in La Grange.

The local women later collected money and bought the baby a few gifts, including a cup.

"We wanted her to know that there were people who cared about her," Welch said.

Becerra was overcome Wednesday when she heard about the baby items.

"I still have them," she said between tears. "I never knew where they were from.

"What do you say to someone who saved your life? Thank you seems so small. She deserves so much more than that."

Face said he wants to meet Gallegos. "What he and his mother did," he said, stopping to clear his throat, "well, they saved my life."

Face and Becerra were adopted by Sacramento area families. Neither of the families knew that another baby had been abandoned. Face grew up in West Sacramento. Becerra was raised in Roseville.

The two met about three weeks ago, after Becerra began researching her birth and found a Modesto Bee article about the two abandoned babies.

Face and Becerra still are getting to know each other. Both say they felt a connection when they met.

"All my life, I had hoped to meet a birth relative," Face said. "And now, a sister, I couldn't ask for anything more."

The two are discussing the possibility of a DNA test, something they'll probably do when everything settles down.

For now, they are interested in learning what they can about their birth. Face said it would be difficult, but he'd like to meet his mother.

Over the years, he said he has concocted different scenarios about her reasons for doing what she did.

"We're not upset, we know life can be hard," Face said. "But we would like some answers."