Ellie Simmonds thanks followers for assist after airing of ITV documentary
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aralympic champion Ellie Simmonds has thanked followers for the messages of assist following the airing of an ITV documentary through which she reunited together with her delivery mom.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star, who has achondroplasia dwarfism, additionally thanked these concerned within the movie who had helped “shed a light into disability and adoption.”
Simmonds, who was given up for adoption when she was two weeks previous, stated the programme helped reply “questions I’ve carried for years”.
Ellie Simmonds: Finding My Secret Family noticed the athlete observe down her delivery mom whereas exploring the connection between incapacity and adoption.
Posting on Instagram on Thursday, Simmonds wrote: “Just want to say thank you so much to everyone for the messages and support I’ve received since opening up about my story and the lead up to the documentary.
“But my biggest thanks goes to everyone who helped make the doc what it is.
“Thank you to Jas, Colleen, Glesni, Jo Clinton Davis, @arthursbearnecessities @jonolanc, Essex Social workers and everyone else (I wish the doc could have been longer so people could hear your story too) who I chatted to who allowed me into their lives and family home to help shed a light into disability and adoption.
“If you’re adopted or fostering and need support, there’s some amazing charities and people to help, such as @adopteefutures and @adoption.uk.”
I’m pleased with my life. And I really like my household. And possibly maybe that household simply received a bit greater
After assembly her delivery mom in an offscreen reunion to guard the lady’s identification, Simmonds stated she felt “a bit more whole”.
Simmonds stated: “I think it’s helped with the finding out who I am, looking at someone who birthed me, the nature that I’m from.
“All the questions that I had to ask to her and she answered them and it makes you a bit more whole.”
She added: “Although I have no idea how this will all play out. I’m glad I’ve gone through this process. Questions I’ve carried for years have been answered.
“I’m proud of my life. And I love my family. And maybe perhaps that family just got a bit bigger.”
The programme goals to focus on the pioneering work of social companies groups across the UK and discover obstacles on each side of the adoptive course of, each social and institutional to ask if they’re perpetuating an unfounded stigma round having disabled kids.
Simmonds got here to nationwide consideration on the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, the place she received two gold medals on the age of 13.
She was awarded the BBC’s Young Sports Personality Of The Year that very same 12 months and made an MBE.
The swimmer competedin the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, in London and Rio respectively, profitable three extra gold medals.
She was upgraded to an OBE in 2013 and appeared in Strictly Come Dancing in 2022.