Counselor Adopted As Infant Gives Her Perspective On 'Baby Veronica' Case

The families fighting over custody of Veronica Brown were last in court a week ago and are still waiting on a resolution.

A gag order was issued in the case, so no one's talking, but it is shining a spotlight on other adoptions.

It seems everyone on both sides of the issue say it's important to do what's best for little Veronica.

Sand Springs resident Rhonda Noonan's experience allows her to see the world through Veronica's eyes.

It was one week ago when Dusten Brown and Matt and Melanie Capobianco were in court in Cherokee County. The two families are fighting for custody of Dusten's daughter, Veronica.

8/19/2013 Related Story: Expert Says Cherokee Courts May Have Final Say In 'Baby Veronica' Case

A mediation agreement was filed, but no one is talking about what it says or if the families are working out custodial arrangements.

"At this point Veronica has been shuffled enough, in my opinion," Noonan said.

Noonan is a mental health counselor who's been tracking Veronica's case. She brings a unique perspective. You see, she was adopted as an infant and spent nearly all of her life tracking down her biological family.

"People who have grown up knowing who they are, who their parents are, where they came from, there's no way they can wrap around what it's like to not know who you are," Noonan said.

She said she eventually learned she's a granddaughter to Winston Churchill, although no DNA tests have been performed.

Her mission now is fighting for the rights of those who are adopted.

It starts, she said, with being allowed access to an original birth certificate with the names of the biological parents.

"It's simply a civil and human right that everyone else in this country has, the right to know who you are, the right to your identity, your history, your culture," Noonan said.

8/19/2013 Related Story: Native American Protestors Rally At State Capitol In Support Of 'Baby Veronica'

Noonan is worried, if the Capobiancos get custody of Veronica, that the little girl's cultural and biological history will be lost. She said South Carolina needs to change its laws and put Veronica's birth parents on her birth certificate.

"I would hope that, in an evolved society, we would come to understand that it's not okay to shroud someone's history or hide their identity any longer," Noonan said.

There are a number of rallies planned this weekend in support of Dusten Brown. There's one Saturday at 7 p.m. at Sooner Park in Bartlesville. Another rally is scheduled in the afternoon at the state capitol in Columbia, South Carolina.