When she was a newborn, his celebrity’s biological parents placed her for adoption.
Because their occupations meant more to them than raising a child, the star’s birth parents didn’t want her when she was born.
Up until the truth was revealed, the actress’ adoptive parents had been lying about her background.
The French Hospital in Los Angeles, which is now defunct, was the hospital where the future celebrity was born on May 8, 1964. The actress was adopted by Barbara Crane and Paul Gilbert, who took her in when she was just 24 hours old.
Jonathan, her younger brother, was also adopted by the couple. Barbara was a twentysomething actress whose career was cut short, and Paul was a stand-up comedian, actor, and dancer who began as an aerialist with a family circus from Buenos Aires. Barbara and Paul parted ways when the young child was six years old, but his daughter remembered him with affection, saying:
“I have never known a more brilliant, energetic, humorous, loving, and fair person than my father.”
When Paul passed away in 1976, many believed he had suffered a stroke while in bed. Her adoption was made public. The celebrity claimed in her book “Prairie Tale: A Memoir” that she was informed when she was a young kid that her father, David Darlington, had been a Rhodes Scholar and that her biological mother, Kathy Wood, was a prima ballerina.
Her birth parents reportedly had no desire to give up their occupations in order to raise her, according to her adopted parents. The timing of the celebrity’s birth was allegedly incorrect, and as a result, they had to give up their daughter because her father was in the middle of a project.
She learned the whole truth about her biological parents when she was old enough. Although not a prima ballerina, her birth mother was a dancer, and David was a stock car racer and sign painter.
Kathy and David had three children between them when they were first married to other people. After running away, becoming pregnant, and moving in with their kids, the couple realized they couldn’t support a seventh child.
Parents Who Adopted Her Didn’t Want Her
The actress was stunned to learn more about her adoption after the death of her adopted father. Mitzi, her godmother, talked about the day she was picked up from the hospital by her adoptive parents.
She acknowledged that when the Gilberts returned with their new baby, it came as a shock. This astonished the actress, who looked to Barbara, along with other family members, and she confessed:
“Well, we weren’t planning on adopting a kid.”
When Barbara and her husband received a call informing them that the little girl will be available, they replied they weren’t seeking for a kid. When the celebrity’s adoptive mother phoned her out-of-state spouse, he instructed her to “go get it.”
She said to the journalist that she wouldn’t subject her kids to the burden of such a dark secret.
She was taken aback to hear herself referred to as a “it,” but Barbara clarified that she hadn’t even been born yet. Later, after learning of her upcoming arrival, Barbara revealed to her that they had been attempting to conceive.
Barbara claims that although the Gilberts were undergoing fertility treatments, they had not brought up the subject of adoption until they got the call. The actress discussed the secrecy of her adoptive family in an interview from July 2020.
The Secrets of the Family
The famous person disclosed to “CBS Sunday Morning” that she learned at the age of 11 that her father had passed away due to a stroke. But she found out at 45 that he had committed suicide.
The actress concealed the secret from everyone in her life, even herself. She informed the interviewer that she would never subject her children to the harm that such deep secrets do to families.
To learn the truth about what had happened to her adopted father, the actress engaged a detective. The detective learned that the deceased World War II veteran had threatened to take his own life while receiving care from the VA and was in excruciating pain.
She fought the anguish of losing her father in this way for approximately six months after learning the truth about Paul. During that time, she was unable to eat or sleep. She has since come to terms with it, though, and now works to preserve his memory by supporting mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
On January 23, 1982, an actress was spotted in Santa Monica at the Santa Monica Bowling Alley | Source: Getty Images
The actress also accepted and forgave Barbara for her decision to conceal the truth, even though she had been angry and betrayed for a long time. The next chapter reveals the celebrity’s name and her current way of life.
Who Is the Star Who Got Abandoned and Went on to Become a Famous Actress?
Melissa Gilbert is the actress, best known for her role as Laura “Half-Pint” Ingalls Wilder on the adored television program “Little House on the Prairie,” which ran from 1974 to 1983. She published her memoir, “Back to the Prairie,” in July 2022, and she is currently spending time with her family.
The celebrity acknowledged that she is “blessed” and mentioned that she is in a different place from her deceased adoptive father. She wants Paul to have felt the happiness that comes with having grandkids and the value of having a life partner who makes you feel listened, safe, and loved.
Timothy Busfield, Melissa’s third husband, and she became grandparents to a total of eight grandchildren in May 2022. While going through his second divorce, Busfield observed the actress waiting for a buddy at an empty pub in 2012.
On June 20, 2023, in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, Melissa Gilbert and her spouse Timothy Busfield attended a photocall for the 62nd Monte Carlo TV Festival | Getty Images
In April 2013, the pair got married in an intimate ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, with Melissa donning a dress by Morgane Le Faye. When Barbara’s daughter couldn’t determine what she wanted, Barbara suggested the brand’s Santa Monica store.
She disclosed in her book “Back to the Prairie” that Busfield, dressed in a blue suit, was alone at the private event; no guests were present. After nearly a lifetime in Hollywood, the famous person had her first kid, a son named Dakota Paul Brinkman, from her first marriage to the actor Bo Brinkman.
Michael Garrett Boxleitner is Melissa’s second child, born after her marriage to Bruce Boxleitner. Along with being a father, Busfield raised three children: Wilson, Daisy, and Samuel. He and his wife currently reside peacefully in a 14-acre cottage in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
My Son’s Teacher Called Me and Said, ‘I’m Sorry, but I Have to Tell You the Truth About Your Son and Your Husband’
I always thought the worst kind of betrayal came from strangers. I was wrong. It comes from the people you trust the most—the ones you’d never suspect. And in my case, it started with a phone call that changed everything.
I will never forget the day my world cracked open.
If you looked at us from the outside, you’d think we were a normal, happy family. I’m 38, a working mom who balances deadlines and dinner prep, school meetings, and Saturday movie nights.
A woman cooking for her family | Source: Pexels
My husband, Daniel, is 42—a dependable man, or so I thought. We’ve been together for 17 years, built a life, a home, and raised our only child, Dylan, who just turned 15.
Dylan has always been a quiet kid, more into books and video games than sports. He takes after me in that way—reserved, a little awkward, but with a heart of gold. Lately, though, something has been… off.
He’s been distant and withdrawn. He doesn’t laugh at our inside jokes anymore, and whenever I ask him how school was, all I get is a vague “fine” before he disappears into his room.
A sad teenage boy | Source: Pexels
At first, I thought it was just teenage mood swings. But then Daniel started acting strangely too. He’s been coming home later than usual, making excuses about work, his phone always buzzing with messages he quickly hides.
I tried convincing myself it was nothing—I mean, we’ve been married for almost two decades. But the tension in our house was thick, unspoken like we were all keeping secrets from each other.
Then, the phone call came.
Woman receiving a phone call | Source: Pexels
It was Dylan’s teacher, Mrs. Callahan. Her voice trembled through the receiver.
“I’m sorry, but I have to tell you the truth about your son and your husband.”
My stomach dropped. What truth?
My hands trembled as I held the phone to my ear. Mrs. Callahan’s voice was low, hesitant like she was afraid to speak.
“I—I need to see you in person,” she stammered. “There’s something I can’t keep from you anymore.”
My pulse quickened. “Is Dylan okay?”
A long pause.
Woman receiving a phone call | Source: Pexels
“Please, just meet me at the school,” she said, her voice almost pleading. “I’ll explain everything then.”
The call ended, but my mind raced. What could she possibly know? What did she mean by the truth? My gut twisted with unease, but I grabbed my keys and headed out.
When I arrived at the school, Mrs. Callahan was already waiting in her classroom, hands clenched together. She looked anxious, her usual warm demeanor replaced with something heavy—guilt, maybe?
“Mrs. Callahan, what’s going on?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
A class teacher discussing a student’s behavior with a concerned parent | Source: Midjourney
She took a deep breath, her eyes darting toward the closed door as if making sure no one else could hear.
“A few days ago, I was walking past one of Dylan’s classmates’ houses,” she started, choosing her words carefully. “Kelly’s house, to be exact.”
My brow furrowed. “Kelly? Dylan’s friend?”
She nodded. “Yes. I saw Dylan and Kelly standing outside, near the driveway. I went up to say hello, but… something was off. They looked—nervous, on edge. Like they didn’t want me there.”
Two nervous teenagers | Source: Midjourney
I frowned. Dylan had been acting strange lately, but this? What was he hiding?
“And then I saw it.” Mrs. Callahan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Your husband’s car. It was parked right in front of Kelly’s house.”
My stomach flipped. “Daniel’s car?”
“Yes. And when I looked through the window…” She hesitated as if deciding whether to continue. “I saw him. Your husband. He was inside, hugging Kelly’s mother.”
Couple hugging | Source: Pexels
The words hit me like a slap. I felt the air leave my lungs.
I shook my head, trying to process it. “You mean… like a friendly hug?”
Mrs. Callahan’s expression told me everything.
“No,” she said softly. “It wasn’t friendly. It was… intimate.”
The room tilted. My vision blurred.
Dylan knew. That’s why he was acting strange. He had seen it too.
People hugging | Source: Pexels
I sat there, frozen, my mind struggling to grasp what Mrs. Callahan had just told me.
“No,” I whispered, more to myself than to her. “That’s not possible.”
But deep down, I knew.
The late nights, the secrecy, the tension in our house—it all made sense now. Daniel wasn’t just distant; he was cheating. And the worst part? Dylan knew. My son had been carrying this secret, and I had been too blind to see it.
Concerned mother speaking with her son’s teacher | Source: Midjourney
I drove home in a daze, my knuckles white against the steering wheel. When I walked into the house, Daniel was on the couch, scrolling through his phone like nothing had changed.
“We need to talk,” I said, my voice shaking.
He looked up, uninterested. “Can it wait?”
“No.”
I told him everything—what Mrs. Callahan saw, what I knew. For a second, just a brief second, I saw something flicker in his eyes. But then, just as quickly, he smirked.
A man with a playful grin, relaxing on the couch | Source: Midjourney
“So what?” he said, shrugging. “It was bound to come out eventually.”
I wanted to scream, to throw something, to make him feel the pain he had just so casually inflicted on me. But I didn’t. I simply turned, walked upstairs, and started packing.
The divorce papers were filed within days. I thought Dylan would understand, that he’d be on my side. But when I told him, his face darkened.
“You’re overreacting,” he snapped. “Dad loves her. Just like I love Kelly.”
Woman talking to her teenage son | Source: Midjourney
My breath caught. What?
“Dylan…” I whispered, my stomach twisting.
“Yeah, Mom.” His eyes were cold. “We’re together. You want to tear this family apart because you can’t handle the truth? Fine. But I’m not leaving Dad.”
And just like that, my son—my baby—walked out the door and chose his father.
The house was empty. Too quiet. Too hollow.
A sad woman holding back tears | Source: Midjourney
For weeks, I drifted, barely functioning. The betrayal cut so deep that even breathing felt like a chore. I had lost my husband and my son in one blow.
Then one evening, as I left the grocery store, I heard a voice behind me.
“Hey, need a hand?”
I turned to see Mark—a single father to one of Dylan’s classmates. We had spoken a few times at school events, but I never thought much of him. Now, he was smiling at me, a gentle warmth in his eyes.
I forced a polite smile. “I’m fine, thanks.”
A man and a woman chatting outside a grocery store | Source: Midjourney
But Mark didn’t give up. Every now and then, he’d find an excuse to talk to me, invite me for coffee, check-in. At first, I ignored it—I wasn’t ready. But slowly, something in me softened.
If you had told me two years ago that my life would turn out like this, I would have laughed in your face. Back then, I was drowning in betrayal, abandoned by the two people I loved the most. I thought I’d never recover. But life has a way of surprising you.
Mark was patient. He never pushed, never demanded. He was just there—steady, kind, everything Daniel never was. What started as casual coffee meetups turned into long evening walks, shared laughter, and eventually, something I thought I’d never feel again: love.
A loving couple sharing a warm hug | Source: Pexels
Now, I’m married to him. And in a few months, we’ll be welcoming our baby into the world.
But Daniel? His perfect little fantasy didn’t last long.
Turns out, Kelly’s mother—oh, sweet, manipulative Julia—wasn’t in love with him. She was in love with his bank account. She drained him dry, took everything she could, and then vanished. The man who once smirked at my pain was now broke, bitter, and alone. Poetic justice.
And Dylan?
My son showed up at my door six months ago, eyes hollow, shoulders slumped.
A boy standing at the front door as his mother opens | Source: Midjourney
“Mom… I was wrong.”
He didn’t need to say more. I pulled him into my arms, holding him tight, feeling the weight of all the lost time between us. I wanted to be angry, to make him earn my forgiveness, but he was my son. And I had missed him more than words could express.
He moved back in with me and Mark, slowly mending what had been shattered. Some wounds take time, but we’re healing, together.
A teenage boy in deep thought | Source: Midjourney
And as I sit here now, rubbing my growing belly and watching Dylan set the dinner table with Mark, I can’t help but chuckle at the insanity of it all.
“What’s so funny?” Mark asked, wrapping his arms around me.
I shake my head, smiling. “This whole mess. It’s such a complicated story that happened within one school class.”
A happy expectant woman sitting on a porch with a man | Source: Midjourney
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