A heartbroken Aberdeen grandmother has made an emotional appeal for information in the hope of being reunited with the daughter she was forced to give away almost 50 years ago.
Jacqui Low, 65, gave birth to her baby girl in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in December, 1966, but was tricked into putting her up for adoption by her parents.
Then Jacqui Mair, she is now a grandmother of three and has since spent the last 48 years desperately searching for the little girl she named Paula.
She said she thought of her long-lost daughter every day – and hopes to be reunited “before it is too late”.
Mrs Low said: “I had a very strict mum and dad who wouldn’t let me keep Paula. After I gave birth to her I thought my mum had handed me papers to sign that would see her fostered but it turns out they were adoption papers.
“I was only 17 and I didn’t know any better. I regret that decision every day.
“Every Christmas is terrible and every time her birthday comes I cry all day.
“I look at everyone who’s aged about 48 when I pass on the streets because I think I would recognise her if I saw her now.
“I gave up a baby and if I ever see her again I’ll be getting back a fully-grown adult.
“I just want to know that she’s happy and for her to know I didn’t give her away on purpose.”
Now with Mrs Low’s heath failing after three strokes and a life-long battle with depression she has called for a change in policy, which would let the mothers of adopted children trace their offspring.
She said: “It was a different time back then, I didn’t even know I was pregnant until I was six months gone. Sex just wasn’t discussed in the sixties.
“Now I’m on about 30 tablets a day and have an operation on my bladder due so I feel like I’m running out of time.”
Kate McDougall from the charity Birthlink wrote to NHS Grampian on Mrs Low’s behalf in April 2009 asking for help and was told it was unable to give any information.
Mrs McDougall said: “I totally agree that Jacqui should be offered a service from the health board and that they should at least contact her daughter on her behalf.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Grampian said: “Data protection legislation means we can’t divulge information regarding a third party without their express permission.”