Chinese Adoptee Emma Ming Fuller Shares Heartfelt Story Online

A 24-year-old woman, Emma Ming Fuller, has captured the attention of the online community by sharing her personal adoption story alongside a childhood video. The video has resonated deeply with viewers, leading to over 1.5 million views on TikTok and sparking conversations among others with similar experiences.

Born in Hubei Province, China, on October 10, 2001, Fuller was abandoned shortly after birth. She was discovered in a basket outside the MingShan government buildings on December 29, 2001, by a passerby who brought her to a police station. Eventually, she spent her early years in an orphanage until being adopted by a family from Northern California at the age of two.

Fuller recalls her adoptive parents, who eagerly awaited her arrival long before they knew her name or face. “Their love became the foundation of everything that followed,” she shared with Newsweek. Her parents have made significant efforts to connect her with her Chinese heritage through Mandarin lessons and cultural celebrations, such as Chinese New Year.

Despite these efforts, Fuller felt a disconnect from her adoption story during her childhood. She explained, “My adoption felt distant, almost abstract, more like a story I would tell people than a lived experience.” Growing up as an only child in an all-white community, she often wished to fit in and struggled to understand her identity. It wasn’t until she was 12 that her parents took her to China with other adoptees, providing her with a chance to visit her birthplace.

During this pivotal trip, Fuller returned to the location where she was found. Reflecting on her experience, she noted that at 12, she felt excitement rather than heaviness about the situation. Recently, she rediscovered a video filmed during that visit, where she casually pointed out her finding area. “This is where my mom left me, right here,” she said in the video, revealing a calm demeanor despite the gravity of her words.

Yet, underlying emotions related to her adoption surfaced in various ways throughout her childhood. Fuller describes experiencing intense emotional outbursts when her mother left for business trips, which often triggered feelings of abandonment. She also struggled with food-related issues, battling bulimia for five years. “I lived with a constant scarcity mindset, an underlying fear that there would not be enough,” she explained.

Now, as an adult, Fuller is actively exploring these feelings and sharing her journey on TikTok, which has fostered connections with fellow Chinese adoptees. “I rarely felt understood in this part of my identity. Now, through telling my story, I have found language for emotions I once carried silently,” she stated.

The response to her childhood video has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers expressing admiration for her resilience. Many commenters shared their own stories and experiences, creating a community of support. One viewer wrote, “Your little voice. I am so grateful you were found safe and got a chance to live a life,” while another remarked, “For such a young voice you sound so strong.”

Fuller has also begun work on a book detailing her experiences as a Chinese adoptee. She reflected on her achievements, stating, “I went on to earn two college degrees, one in finance and one in math, graduated in the top 5 percent of my class, and became the first female two-term student body president in my school’s history.”

Despite her success, Fuller is still interested in finding her biological parents to piece together her history. She has utilized online services such as 23andMe and Ancestry, although she has not yet located any relatives. “As I continue to grow, my feelings may change. For now, I am content with my life, my parents, and the people who love me,” she concluded.

Fuller’s story illustrates the profound impact of adoption and identity, resonating with many and highlighting the importance of sharing personal narratives in creating community and understanding.