My name is Mary Ellen (Brault) Goodrow, and I was at St. Joseph’s Orphanage as an infant for two-and-a-half months in 1965.

I was raised in Burlington’s New North End, and often passed by the orphanage with my family.   I would see the children playing outside and wish that I could bring all of them home with me and care for them.  After learning the identities of my birthmother, birthfather and connecting with the former orphanage residents, the three holes in my heart were healed.  Everything I learned made me feel so blessed to be adopted, to deeply appreciate my parents, and to later enjoy being with my husband and two sons.