The Great Read: Her Final Wish: A Home for the Son She Never Got to Hold
Chrissie Tully gave birth to a son 76 years ago in an Irish home for single mothers, shrouded in secrecy and shame. She’s still waiting for him.
The New York Times
The Great Read

May 5, 2025, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

On weekdays and Sundays, we recommend one piece of exceptional writing from The Times — a narrative or essay that takes you someplace you might not expect to go.

Chrissie Tully, dressed in a peach sweater, sits on a large armchair, looking to the side.

Ali Watkins/The New York Times

Her Final Wish: A Home for the Son She Never Got to Hold

Chrissie Tully gave birth to a son 76 years ago in an Irish home for single mothers, shrouded in secrecy and shame. She’s still waiting for him.

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