July 13th, 1992 - Emmelie Erikaender DiGuilio came into the world -
without the love of her real biological father Derrel Stratton. Born in Alameda County - California, USA -
Emma soon moved to Berlin, Germany with her mother Jennifer Stoops.
Emma does not have her
real father's last name, has never been told anything about him
and has never met or known his family or her half-sisters.
Emma does not have
a step father either. She deserves to have contact with her
father and know the love of her real father. I love all of my children and want to know my daughter
and be a part of her life. I lovingly hope and pray that Emma will find me
through this website and come to know her biological father and his family!!!
Dolphins are her absolute favorite. She loves art, has a beautiful
singing voice and is very talented at playing the violin and piano. I'd give anything to hear her beautiful voice
and see her play the violin or the piano someday. She loves the Harry Potter series novels
(just like her half-sister Courtney, they are almost identical in so
many ways).
Emma looks just like me as a
teenager
She has thick brown hair like her
father.
Her elbows can bend backward just like mine and her sister Courtney!
Emma plays tennis.
Emma is very artistic.
Emma goes by Emma.
Dear Emma...
Hello from your father and his
family in the U.S.A. My name is Derrel
Stratton and I live in Alabama. Although you do not know me, I love you
very much
Emma and I want to know you with all of
my heart. I have tried in vain to contact your mother many times during your
life to find out about you and to know you.
I loved your mother for a short time when I lived in
Berlin, Germany in 1991 and you are the result of that love. I was so
happy to briefly hear from your mother in 2005 and find out so many wonderful
things about you. I now have pictures of my
beautiful Emma. I cannot believe how
much you look like
me when I was younger. Your mother told
me that you do not know about me or your 3 sisters here in the United
States. Sadly, your mother has not been honest with me about you or what you and
your family know about me. I have always wondered about you and missed you in my life.
Not until recently was I able to find out that you live with your grandparents
and that I might be able to know you. I
want to share my love and my family with you. You are
welcome in our home anytime sweetheart. I pray for the day that
your family will tell you about your father in the United States. I am trying very hard to know you and to
meet you soon.
Emmelie, I
do know that you live with your grandparents and not with your mother.
I assume this is for the best reasons. Please tell them that you want to
know about your father and his
family. You
have a half-sister named Courtney who is 4 years older
than you. She is wanting to meet you and
write to you. She and you are very much
alike. You have 2 younger half-sisters too
(Caitlin and Cassidy). Your father has a
wife named Dana. We would all love to meet
you, write to you and we are very proud of
you. We feel like we already know you! You
can know about us
HERE. Feel free to contact me using the
scrolling message link above, I will gladly tell you anything you may ask, call
you back, email you or whatever you may want.
Please
understand Emma that I have tried very hard
to convince your mother (and then your family) to
let me know about you and to hopefully meet
you someday. For some unknown reason your
mother changed her mind (again) when we were in
contact in 2005 (when I finally found out
about you for sure) and then she stopped all
contact with me after I wanted to introduce
myself to your grandparents. I believe your
grandparents (John and Erika) also know the
truth about me being your biological father,
but they will not
speak with me about you at all. This makes me very sad. Perhaps they are just very protective of
their granddaughter and afraid of the
unknown. I'm worried that my darling
daughter may grow up with no knowledge of
her biological father and her half-sisters.
This is breaking my heart, but I PROMISE
that I will do whatever I can to be any part
of your life that God will allow. Please
know Emma that I do love you dearly and am
trying desperately to be a part of your life without disrupting you or your
family's life. I just want to know how my
beautiful girl is doing, and be there for
you in any way that you may ever need.
To Emma's family...
Do not fear me or my
intentions. Please just talk to me. I just want to give you
the opportunity to know me. I am a good person with a generous heart. I
have no intention on turning anyone's life upside down and I would
NEVER try to take Emma away from your family. Please talk to your
daughter Jennifer. She knows I am a good person at heart. Perhaps now that she
has another child she will be more open with the truth about me being Emma's
biological father.
Understand this...Jason DiGulio (Jennifer's ex
husband) IS
NOT Emma's biological father and I truly believe you already know
this (Jennifer told me you have known this since Emma was an infant). I
understand that Emma may not need me in her life, but she deserves to know about her
biological father and his side of the
family someday. If you feel that I am wrong, or if you have some other
reason for not wanting Emma to know the truth about her biological
father, then please speak to me about this. I know you have seen this
website (as John Stoops told me over the phone) and I do not
understand why you are hiding from me and hiding the truth from Emma.
I
am very willing and eager to discuss anything about Emma and any
desires you have for her future. I am here for you.
This is your opportunity to give Emma the truth and knowledge about her father the way you would prefer. Without
your input and without any discussion whatsoever, you leave me only the
option of going thru the family court in Germany, filing a motion for a
paternity test and involving Emma in something that she obviously has no
knowledge of.
You are Emma's family and I know you do not want her confused or forced into
anything she may not be ready for. Your
unwillingness to share any information (either about Emma or to voice your
differing opinion) is without precedent. I am open to your
concerns, however unfounded they may be. Please do not keep me and Emma from
knowing each other because of the deception and problems that your daughter Jennifer
has caused between us. I believe you already know this truth...and I am
willing to provide any proof you may need (verbal, medical, legal or whatever it
takes).
Above all, know this: This website will
remain FOREVER, as long as it is needed - you cannot stop Emma from finding
out the truth about her father someday. Her friends, colleagues, teachers, or
perhaps even a stranger she may meet in Berlin will some day tell her about her
father looking for her through this website. How will you look in her eyes
knowing that you have hidden from her that her biological father wants to be a
part of her life for so long?
Everyone Else...
Are you wondering why I don't know or get to
visit my daughter? You can read about it
HERE. I had not been able to
locate my daughter or know the truth until recently (2005)...I determined to fight for
my
Father's Rights. I love all 4 of my
children (all girls).
Are you in a similar situation? Do you have children abroad that you do not get to know or visit? If so,
visit my links page
HERE. Please
share your stories with me and my family. We'd love to hear from you.
Can you help me get to know my daughter? Do you have personal advice, words of encouragement, legal advice or would you like to donate to the legal fund? Anything anyone can offer is appreciated -
you can help
HERE.
Please keep Emmelie and my family in
your prayers. If you know Emma's family or her mother, please try to
explain to them how unfair it is to deny a father's love to his
daughter and her right to know her father.
