Switched at Birth
MELVILLE – Switched at Birth received international media attention and coverage.
The heart-wrenching book Switched at Birth was launched at Love Books in Melville, to a packed room of book lovers on 12 April.
The book launch was facilitated by Sue Grant-Marshall who spoke to author Jessica Pitchford about her journey writing the book.
The story is about two mothers, Megs Clinton-Parker and Sandy Dawkins who had their babies switched at an East Rand Hospital, without their knowledge. When the switch had come to light, the mothers were faced with the impossible choice of either giving up their sons whom they had raised as their own or taking back the babies they had given birth to.
Instead they tried to make their unique circumstances work even though they stayed in different cities 500km away. They decided to sue the South African government, whose negligence altered the fates of the two families forever.
Pitchford said that she was inspired to write the book when she met the mothers in the early ’90s, after being contacted by an Australian show 60 minutes who wanted her to line them up for a TV story.
“I waited until the boys were in their twenties and the story had evolved before approaching them to do a book. At first they were reluctant, not wanting to open old wounds but they finally all agreed to speak about the journey from discovering the switch to adulthood,” explained Pitchford.
Robin Dawkins and Gavin Clinton-Parker grew up living each other’s lives, aware of the dilemma their mothers faced.
Gavin said that their mothers were more affected by the situation than he and Robin. “When we found out about our biological mothers, we just accepted and lived with it. I have visited my biological mother a couple of times but it’s not really a place I identify as home. I believe everything happens the way it is meant to happen,” said Gavin.
Megs described the whole situation as a long journey that she is taking one day at a time. “I am very lucky to have a relationship with both boys and talk to them almost on a daily basis. I also often see my grandchildren from Robin and his wife,”concluded Megs.
The book is available at book shops across South Africa.
Details: Johnathan Ball Publishers publicist Andrea Marchesi: andrea.marchesi@jonathanball.co.za, 011 601 8000.
Related articles:
