TV show ‘Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace’ on God rescuing an abandoned baby

I was deeply moved by a recent episode of Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace. If you’re not familiar with it, this documentary series combines new DNA technology with painstaking detective work to find answers for foundlings (abandoned babies).

Sensitively presented by Davina McCall and Nicky Campbell each episode unlocks mysteries for those who are desperately looking for clues to their identity. One such baby, Rachel McArthur was found on the 21st June 1969 in a battered carry cot in a long stay car park at Euston Station, London. She was at least six weeks old.

Known as the ‘Euston Baby’ Rachel’s adoptive mother always told her “you were like Paddington Bear, you were found at a train station”

Known as the ‘Euston Baby’ Rachel’s adoptive mother always told her “you were like Paddington Bear, you were found at a train station”. But the parallels end there as Rachel still bears physical scars from her time left alone in a battered carry cot in Euston Station’s long-stay car park more than 50 years ago. Rachel was adopted while still a baby.

Her adoptive mother, Phyllis McArthur, believes it was God who rescued the abandoned baby she would soon take care of. She explained to her daughter: “You were known as the Euston baby because of all the publicity that there was about it.”

Speaking to camera Mrs McArthur said: “She (Rachel) had ulcers round her nappy area and she was very floppy, very poor muscle tone, I just felt that whoever had had her, didn’t really know how to look after a baby.”

 “I believe that it was God who prompted the car park attendant to go at that time and sweep around, because had she been left until Monday morning she wouldn’t have survived.”

The now demolished long stay car park at Euston Station, London was preparing to close for the weekend. The delicate little baby would be left to survive alone for more than 48 hours without food, warmth or care. Mrs McArthur revealed: “I believe that it was God who prompted the car park attendant to go at that time and sweep around, because had she been left until Monday morning she wouldn’t have survived.”

As the quest for clues about Rachel’s identity continued, Rachel searched newspaper archives. She was noticeably distraught when she discovered a headline about when she was found as a baby. The headline read: “Jennifer Euston found by a sweeper”. Jennifer Euston was the temporary name given to her at the time.

Lead Search and Social Work Consultant for Long Lost Family, Ariel Bruce, worked diligently to untangle the chronology and DNA connections of the complex case. It was eventually discovered that in fear, Rachel’s birth mother Christine, ran away to a new life in Canada with Rachel’s older sister Eileen, who was still a baby herself at the time.

Eileen was contacted by Long Lost Family and made aware of the situation. She travelled from British Columbia in Canada to meet her new found sister Rachel. It was an emotional meeting. The two of them embraced, held hands, asked questions and tried to piece together the missing pieces of the puzzle. Eileen was able to tell Rachel that their mother struggled with her mental health and ongoing guilt and “at the end of her life she asked for forgiveness for everything.”

Rachel asked her new found sister Eileen, if she believed her birth mother ever thought of her. Eileen explained: “I think she did … When she was at the end, she told the story about a little girl that she always envisioned standing on a hill under a tree. She said her name was Rachel. I had no idea what it meant. And then I hear I have a sister and her name is Rachel. I’m like Wow!”

Rachel responded with surprise: “She couldn’t possibly have known that!”

The two sisters seemed relieved and happy to have found each other. They seemed determined to make up for all that had been lost and build a strong supportive relationship with each other.