An Adoption Story: Iván's Discovery of His Birth Family Links in Russia and Armenia

S1 EP10 (2023 Series) An Adoption Story: Iván was adopted at the age of 13 months from Moscow, Russia by his Spanish parents. He was raised on the north coast of Spain, in the city of Santander. He had always known that he had birth family links in Russia but later on when he grew older, he then found out more about having links also in Armenia. With his life growing up in Spain and learning more on his family links, Iván adapted to a new way of life in Chicago. There, he got married to his wife Nicki. Iván also supports those within the adoption community, helping connect with more adoptees in the Spanish speaking community including with I'm Adopted. This is his story. The 2023 Series of An Adoption Story was supported by the team at MyHeritage. ------ *My Story*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, which highlights 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, including connections in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. ➡︎    • My Journey and Story   ➡︎    • My Family   ➡︎    • My Birth Parents   An Adoption Story Explore incredible stories of adoptees, each with their own unique path. ➡︎ Season Three (2026)    • An Adoption Story (2026 Series - Season Th...   ➡︎ Season Two (2024-2025)    • An Adoption Story (2024-2025 Series - Seas...   ➡︎ Season One (2022-2023)    • An Adoption Story (2023 Series - Season One)   Subscribe Don't forget to Subscribe:    / @alexgilbert   Support My Work If you’d like to support what I do and help me continue creating An Adoption Story, there are a few ways you can: ➡︎ Join as a YouTube Member by clicking 'Join' on my channel ➡︎ Become a Patron on Patreon for extra perks and behind-the-scenes access:   / nzalexgilbert   ➡︎ Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/alexgilbert All contributions go directly towards producing An Adoption Story and supporting the community. Perks are available on Patreon and YouTube for those who join, including exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early access to episodes, and your opportunity to help shape the stories for the series. Connect With Me ➡︎ Instagram:   / alexgilbert   ➡︎ Facebook:   / nzalexgilbert   I'm Adopted ➡︎ Website: https://imadopted.org/ ➡︎ Facebook:   / imadoptedorg   ➡︎ Instagram:   / 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 04:48 The Adoption Process 07:46 Going to Spain 12:00 Learning More About His Origins 15:06 The Search 20:15 Finding his Birth Mother 23:21 Searching for his Birth Father in Armenia 26:41 The Sister He Didn't Know About 30:08 Meeting his Grandma and Family in Armenia 32:01 Advice for Other Adoptees