My name is Nina - An Introduction

Hello, my name is Nina Johnson. I was born in Bolshaya Vruda, Leningradskaya Oblast,’ Russia. I spent the first 6 months of my life in a hospital.

I was born prematurely, due to an unsuccessful abortion. I was born a twin, but she unfortunately died as a result of the abortion.

Fighting for survival on my own, I was orphaned at 3 months old. Then I was sent to an orphanage in Saint Petersburg, Russia where I lived for the next 3 years. I was adopted at age 3.5, along with my non-biological brother by an American family.

Ever since I could speak English I always questioned where I came from and my story. My parents and family were always open to answering any questions they could, as best they could. At an early age it wasn’t lost on me where I came from and how growing up in an orphanage impacted me. I saw in my everyday life how it affected me and I still do see the struggles that I have. A lot I have had to overcome physically, emotionally and mentally; that comes with the territory of a beginning like mine.

It wasn’t until I joined an adoptee group, saw other adoptees share their stories of adoption and reunion that I became really interested in my own story. In early 2021 I started a journey that would forever change my life. The journey of reunion with my biological family. It is this journey that really opened my eyes to what I feel and believe as an adoptee. With adoption, there is a lot of brokenness, loss and grief. Also with adoption there is love, acceptance and family. 

For me, what I believe is that adoption is not one sided. I say it’s beauty within brokenness. It is just as important to understand the beauty as it is to understand the brokenness. In addition to that, it is also important for me to find where I stand, because brokenness is not where I stand. I stand proudly sharing my story as an adoptee.

~ Nina Johnson