Hicks Babies Return to McCaysville
They’re part of a group of about 200 people who were born in that little village in north Georgia.
They were adopted within days and are now searching for identity.
It’s become an annual quest—going on 20 years now.
Millions of Americans were raised by adoptive parents. And in most cases,it seems, it made little difference as to happiness or quality of life for the child.
But eventually, those children want to know more about birth parents.
For the so-called "Hicks Babies" of McCaysville, Georgia that’s become a major challenge.
PAUL PAYNE, HIXSON "He did us all a favor..he found us good homes, but where he hurt us the most was that he took the adopted parents names, and put them as natural parents names on the birth certificates." .
Paul Payne was at Chattanooga airport to welcome Diane Warner from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She joined the group a few years ago after searching for siblings on-line.
When the Hicks Babies began making national news a friend made the connection.
DIANE WARNER, A HICKS BABY "She called me the next morning and said you’re not going to believe this story about the Hicks babies where you’re adopted from..it just broke. Send your birth certificate to Georgia to McCaysville and see if you’re part of that group."
It turns out, Diane was a Hicks Baby—one of many who were adopted by parents in Ohio,Illinois and other northern states.
She was born here, in what was the Hicks Clinic.
Its now a pizza restaurant.
Richard Wagner, a city councilman and retired engineer, lives right across the street.
RICHARD WAGNER, MCCAYSVILLE "I remember Doc Hicks from when I was a kid. He and my parents were very good friends , he was a character. He was not opposed to making money."
Paul Payne says his group is not laying blame on the doctor or the town…they are just looking for answers.
RICHARD WAGNER "He would take them in his clinic ..provide pre-natal care..take care of them , deliver the child, put it up for adoption."
But falsifying the birth certificates was, and still is the big stumbling block for the Hicks babies.
That’s why they are back again this year.
The Hicks Babies will take part in DNA testing tomorrow as they continue their search for parents and siblings.
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