A JOURNEY of discovery leading from Glasgow to Helensburgh, Scotland to England, beset with emotional revelations, highs and lows.

Elaine Henderson’s story is both inspiring and upsetting in equal measures.

Born at the former Rottenrow Maternity Hospital, she was immediately placed into care at Blairvadach Children’s Home where she spent her first three formative years before being fostered by a family in Kirkliston, near Edinburgh.

Living with her adopted parents and siblings for almost 20 years, it took her until the age of 15 to finally summon the courage to ask about her birth mum and dad.

“I always knew I wasn’t part of the family,” she said.

Now 46 and living in Falkirk with her husband John and their two children, Elaine has just penned her first book, Believe, detailing the trials and tribulations as she attempted to unravel the mystery of her unique early childhood.

In it, she explains the important and positive part which her first home – Blairvadach, near Shandon - played in her life.

She told the Advertiser: “I visited Blairvadach when I was a teenager and it was surreal.

“I then went again with my family when it was the old Argyll and Bute Council offices and I had a real sense of connection. I felt a real rush, like ‘I’ve been here’.

“I could picture myself toddling about and walking in the garden.

“It was the only place I knew as home until I was whipped out of it.”

After meeting her husband in her twenties, getting married and settling down with children of her own, Elaine was encouraged to trace her family links and find out more about her mum and dad.

“When I was 15, I found out I was the youngest of eight and I was caught up in a whirlwind of information at that age.

“I met my dad, but that was a relationship that was just never going to be.

“In my 30s I set out to find a photo of my mum as I had a longing feeling to see her.

“Over the course of 10 years I found all of my siblings and found out my mum was from Springburn and had her origins in Glasgow.

“That was a really fascinating and fun journey but also one which was fraught with emotion.

“I would always believe I had cracked it but then be crushed by new information, like finding out my mum was really ill and living in really poor housing conditions. It was heart-breaking to learn that.”

Elaine’s birth mum took her own life at the age of just 42.

Determined to put a face to the name, Elaine joined social media in search of someone who may have known her. And, successfully, she was provided with more than she could ever have hoped for.

She said: “One month after posting an appeal for information I had found a photo of my mum, I found out about cousins and relatives down in England and my children now have this whole extra family who we visit regularly.

“I found out that the ladies who worked at Blairvadach ran a reunion event and through that I was able to get a hold of 20 photos from when I was a child there.

“They were able to tell me that I was a quiet, contented and happy child who was cherished at the home and one lady even said I was her favourite girl.

“That was amazing to hear.”

Elaine credits her social worker Jill with playing a key role in her quest to reveal her family history.

But it was husband John, daughter Kate, 18, and son Thomas, 16, who inspired her to publish her story, which they said “couldn’t be made up”.

Kate added: “I loved writing my story but it didn’t begin as a book, initially I was just writing about what was going on.

“It was written with absolute honesty and I’ve not held back.

“It’s given me a sense of freedom. Before, I wasn’t telling people about my story, but now I’m happy sharing it and it’s mind-blowing how well received it has been. I’m so grateful.

“I’m writing today to put my story out there and there’s a chance it might help someone. I’ve built up a network of support now and it has helped me. I’ve no fear left in me now and it was a big step to put it out there.

“When I started, little did I know that I would find my mum and siblings and all of these other family members.

“It has given me a real sense of belief in myself as I had a low sense of self-worth before.

“Through this process I’ve found out what makes me tick and who I am.

“For the first time in my whole life I can look in the mirror and I am OK with what is looking back. I now truly believe that anything is possible.”

Elaine said she has no plans yet for a second book but added: “Never say never. Maybe one day I will write a follow-up.”