October Baby 2012

Hannah, a 19-year-old college freshman burdened by epilepsy, asthma, and depression, finds herself on the verge of her theatrical debut when a catastrophic collapse on stage forces her to confront the emotional turmoil brewing within her. This intense moment leads to poignant conversations with her parents and a doctor, who uncovers passages from her journal revealing her feelings of alienation and emotional neglect. The bombshell revelation that Hannah is adopted unearths the tumultuous history of her biological mother’s struggles during pregnancy, including her desire to abort her.

In search of comfort, Hannah confides in her steadfast friend, Jason Burkey, and shares her emotional chaos, which ultimately inspires her to track down her birth mother. Ignoring her father [Jacob Lawson]‘s apprehensions regarding her fragile health, she insists on journeying to New Orleans with Jason and his friends for spring break, fueled by an insatiable curiosity for the truth. Their escapades lead them to Mobile, Alabama, where they pay respects at the hospital of her birth, only to face unexpected trouble when they are arrested for unlawfully entering a restricted area.

However, the local sheriff, touched by Hannah’s authenticity, decides to set them free while offering vital information about the nurse who signed her birth certificate, pushing Hannah closer to uncovering her past. Armed with this newfound lead, she pays a visit to the nurse and learns about her twin brother, a sibling she never knew existed, and the compelling yet heartbreaking story of their births.

Meeting her biological mother floods Hannah with complex emotions, including rage stemming from rejection. This tumultuous reunion is compounded by her father discovering her lies about socializing and checking with her doctor, prompting him to restrict Jason’s contact with her. Heartbroken, Jason retreats back to his friends, breaking things off with his girlfriend, Alanna, and reaching out to Hannah’s father to express his regret and intention to make amends.

As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Hannah’s adoptive parents, though loving, have wrestled with their own issues. The burden of their hidden truths culminates in their decision to share the poignant story behind their choice to adopt Hannah and her late brother, a narrative steeped in loss and resilience.

Feeling increasingly lost, Hannah finds a moment of peace inside a Catholic Church, where a compassionate priest’s words usher in a profound realization. This moment allows her to face her biological mother with newfound understanding, ultimately paving the way for forgiveness that puts to rest the traumas of her past.

As Hannah and Jason, now more than just friends, return to the theater where it all began, they seize the chance to complete the play that was prematurely halted. This act symbolizes not only their shared journey but also the deepening of their relationship. The story concludes with a sense of hope and renewal as Hannah, now at peace, prepares to embark on her college journey, enveloped in the love of her adoptive family. With a bright smile and Jason’s hand securely in hers, she acknowledges her parents’ selfless choice to bring her into their lives when she needed it the most.