CN Boy Lost 3 Decades Ago, Adopted by Foreigners, Finds Parents

China Boy Lost 3 Decades Ago, Adopted by Foreigners, Finds Parents

A PhD holder of Chinese origin, adopted at four years old by a Dutch couple, successfully located his biological parents after a search spanning 12 years.

The relentless pursuit by Gouming Martens to trace his roots has captivated many on the internet.

Over twenty years earlier, in 1994, Martens was separated from his family during a journey from Jiangsu province in eastern China to his mother's native Sichuan province in the southwest when he was just three years old.

Compassionate individuals took him to an orphanage, and he was subsequently adopted by a Dutch couple, Jozef and Maria Martens, in 1996.

They named him Gouming, a nod to his orphanage-given name Gou Yongming, to help him retain a connection to his heritage.

His adoptive parents were supportive of his quest to find his biological parents.

In 2007, the entire family went back to China to gather leads, only to find the orphanage had closed down. Nevertheless, Gouming continued his search.

He dedicated five years to reacquaint himself with Mandarin, which he had forgotten, and worked part-time to fund three visits to China during his university studies.

In 2012, he joined Baobeihuijia, or Baby Come Home, a volunteer group aiding individuals in locating lost family members, and sought his biological parents with their help.

Meanwhile, he completed his studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands and earned a PhD in linguistics from McGill University in Canada.

He is currently employed in Canada as an AI speech recognition specialist.

In October of the previous year, volunteers informed Gouming that his DNA had matched that of his biological mother, Wen Xurong.

It was revealed that both his mother Wen and father Gao Xianjun had been tirelessly searching for their son, known to them as Gao Yang.

Their narrative is heart-wrenching.

Back in 1994, Gao Xianjun momentarily lost sight of Wen at a train station. While searching for his wife, he was startled by hooligans and lost their son, Gao Yang.

A vagrant deceived Wen into going home with him and coerced her into having a son, abandoning her post-childbirth.

Wen returned to her hometown in Sichuan, faced with mental health challenges, remarried, and had a daughter.

Gao Xianjun made the arduous journey from Sichuan to Jiangsu, a distance of 1,700 kilometers, begging for sustenance while desperately searching for Gao Yang until his death in 2009.

In 2017, Gao Xianjun's brother contacted Wen to suggest registering her DNA with the police and posting her son's information on Baobeihuijia.

Volunteers later managed to match Gouming's and his mother's DNA in the database, despite initial challenges requiring both parents' DNA.

By a fortunate twist of fate, the day the volunteers confirmed the successful DNA match was Gouming's actual birthday, October 12 on the Chinese agricultural calendar.

Tragically, Gouming's adoptive mother passed away just before the joyful news arrived, but his adoptive father was overjoyed.

Gouming reunited with Wen and his half-siblings in Sichuan during the Spring Festival holiday in February.

Wen, despite her mental health struggles, was overjoyed at the reunion, repeatedly calling him by his nickname, Yangyang, and asking, "Where have you been?"

"I'm here," replied Gouming.

His stepfather prepared various potato-based dishes, a staple in both the Netherlands and Canada.

Gouming also visited his father's grave in Jiangsu, met his uncles and aunts, and received compensation money that his uncle had been holding for him for over a decade.

He wrote a letter of gratitude to his adoptive father for nurturing him into a highly sought-after talent and allowing his brother to rest peacefully.

Gouming expressed that his search was motivated not only by his own desire but also by his parents' enduring hope: "I knew they were looking for me, waiting for me to come home."

He plans to visit China annually.

This touching tale has resonated deeply online.

"One observer noted, "He might have thought his parents abandoned him, but they never stopped searching for him."

"Despite his story's unfortunate start, he was ultimately fortunate as both his biological and adoptive families are filled with love," commented another.

Source: SCMP

Get daily news, tips, and events in Shanghai

Connect with expat communities and industry experts

For the latest jobs&policy updates, scan the code below to follow AnyJob! 

If you have any questions about China visa applications (work visa, company registration and more), please contact our visa consultant Lisa.

Click "Wow" if you like this article