"I Learned My Mother Had Died as a Child, Only to Discover a Shocking Truth: I Was Sold on the Black Market"

WHEN DIANA Hochberg’s close pal asked if she would like help finding her mum, she was confused.

For years, Diana was under the impression that her mum Ethel had passed away when she was just a little girl.

Diana’s life turned upside down in April 1993 when a family friend dropped a bombshell about her parents Credit: Jam Press Diana believed the shock revelation meant she had been adopted – however, the reality was far more sinister Credit: Jam Press

But that wasn’t the truth at all.

In fact, both Diana’s parents weren’t really who they said they were, and it turns out, her entire life had been a sham.

The author, now 70, believed the shock revelation meant she had been adopted; but the reality was far more sinister.

As Diana was actually sold on the .

Diana, pictured with adoptive parents, Manny and Ethel Credit: Jam Press Diana went on to discover shocking truth about her biological mother Donna (pictured) Credit: Jam Press

“Discovering I was adopted was one thing – but learning there were no papers or that my birth records [weren’t real] was something entirely different,” she says.

“I was shocked. They raised me and I loved them; that never changed.

“What troubled me was the secrecy. Growing up, I had no idea how much of my history had been hidden from me.

“As I learned more about the black market baby trade, I became less focused on the people who raised me and more on the system that made it possible.

“My search has never been about blaming anyone; it’s about reclaiming part of my identity that was taken from me before I existed.”

Diana’s secret was unfolded in April 1993.

Up until then, the now 70-year-old’s life was fairly normal.

She had been sitting in a diner with her son, David, now aged 42 and her pal, Manny.

Manny used to be a regular visitor at her house growing up, but after her dad, also called Manny, passed away in 1979, they saw each other less and less.

After reliving old memories, he uttered the words that changed everything.

Diana, from Florida, says: “For a second, I thought I had misheard him.

“He said it was a shame I had never met my mum Ethel, which left me confused. She had passed away when I was 10; and then embarrassment flooded his face.

“I didn’t understand what he was talking about when he asked if I wanted help finding her. I began shaking. So I called my brother to find out the truth.”

Growing up, Diana said she ‘had no idea’ how much of her ‘history had been hidden’ from her Credit: Jam Press Diana has since publish a memoir titled Connected: Finding My Truth Credit: Jam Press

He quickly suggested looking for her birth certificate; when Diana realised she had never seen it before.

She applied for a new one and began doing some digging, ringing around old family members, hoping that someone would have an answer.

Sadly, she was only left with more questions.

She says: “One relative changed the subject and put the phone down. Another claimed he needed to speak with a lawyer before answering any questions.

“Three months later, the certificate arrived. But while my parents’ names were on it, mine was not.”

She began connecting the dots, such as having dark features, whereas theirs were fair.

After six months, she spoke with a man in Canada who knew her parents.

He told the story of a young woman called Donna, who fell pregnant at 17. As she was unable to raise a child, she agreed to a “secret” arrangement.

While stunned, it explained why Diana looked different to her family and why her name was not on the birth certificate.

With the new information in tow, she found out her birth mum’s contact details. After speaking with her siblings, Diana was told that her mother had died unexpectedly aged 30.

It’s something she’s still trying to verify.

Diana adds: “I have no idea how much money was exchanged for me. But what I do know is that she had no more children.

“I don’t blame her for what she did. It was what was best for everyone at the time and my parents – well, my adoptive ones – were very loving and kind.

“I just wish I had the chance to meet her. had my world tipped upside down when I found out.

“But thank goodness I know the truth.”