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Katie Ginella Reveals if She's Met Her Birth Mother Yet (EXCLUSIVE)
Katie Ginella shared an update on her search for her biological mom in an interview at Bravo HQ.
Katie Ginella is sharing an update on her plan to meet her birth mother.
On Season 18, Episode 14 of The Real Housewives of Orange County, Katie, who was adopted as a baby, told her castmates that she, her husband, and her daughter were planning a trip to South Korea, where she was born and her birth mother still resides. "My birth mother, as of now, said it's okay," Katie shared.
In an interview at Bravo HQ, which you can check out in the above video, Katie opened up about said trip, which is actually still in progress due to a number of recent life events.
However, Katie expressed that she's determined to make the trip happen and connect with her birth mother.
"My husband and I, right now, are still planning our trip. My father-in-law passed away, so we kind of had to put it off for a little bit," Katie said. "I would like to go back. Even just to see where I'm from would be pretty magical for me."
Katie Ginella Details Her Search for Her Birth Mom
According to Katie, the journey has been a long time coming, but the timing just hasn't been right.
"I tried looking for my birth mother about 10 or 11 years ago, but I was also getting divorced. I really didn't want two big life things happening at the same, so I put it off and kind of compartmentalized it for a little bit. I wanted to turn 40 and enter into my 40s checking that off my bucket list," she explained in her interview at Bravo HQ.
"I talk a little bit about my adoption experience with the women at a dinner in London," she added. "I explain to people that I feel like my life is a beautiful puzzle, and I just have a bottom-right piece missing. I just want to put that puzzle piece in, and then I'll feel whole."
During that dinner (which was documented on Episode 14) Katie was touched by her castmates' support. "I haven't really gotten close with everybody, but I think in that moment, every single woman — even Heather [Dubrow] with the odds we're at — were really kind and really receptive and really wanted to hear what happens next and I appreciated that," she said in the video above.
Katie Ginella's Adoption Story
On RHOC Season 18, Episode 14, Katie opened up to the group about her adoption story.
"[My birth mother] was 15 [when she gave birth]. She almost had me in a factory," Katie said. "She worked until the day I was born, and she kept me for three days."
Previously, on Season 18, Episode 2, Katie shared details about her upbringing.
"I always remember knowing that I was adopted. My parents could not have children. They adopted my brother and sister from Georgia and then they heard of adoption from Korea," she explained in an episode interview.
"I one hundred percent felt different growing up than my family," she added. "We didn't talk about anything Korean, we didn't eat Korean food, but [my daughter] Kaili has a big interest in her Korean roots. She's taught herself to read Korean and speak Korean. So now, we'll go out to eat at a Korean restaurant and my daughter will order for me. I'm like, 'This is embarrassing.'"
Watch the video above to hear more from Katie about her journey in reconnecting with her birth mother.
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