I'm adopted.

I can't ever remember not knowing as my parents were very open with me about that subject and made it very normal. Growing up it's never bothered me other than not having a very good medical history. I looked into searching for my biological family a couple times but since my adoption was through a Catholic church the records were completely sealed so dead end.

Last Friday my world was flipped upside down.

As I was leaving work I noticed an email from Ancestry Genealogy. My wife and I took the tests 4-5 years ago so that my daughter could see where our gene pool came from and didn't ever think too much more about it. Apparently, a biological cousin took the test recently and found out I was a close match.

After a couple of very guarded emails back and forth getting to know each other she relinquished some information that only someone who knew my birth mother would know. 41 years old and this was the first time I was to speak with a blood relative other than my daughter! She gave me her number and we talked on the phone for an hour or so. She has a large extended family and wasn't very close to any of her aunts but she made some calls and what she found changed my life on the most profound and fundamental level.

Both of my birth parents are still alive as well as 3 grandparents. I have 10 aunts and uncles who produced a gaggle of cousins too. So far I've been able to speak with my cousin, an aunt on my dad's side and I had the most wonderful talk with my birth mother to cap it off. They have all been warm and seem genuinely excited to get to know me. I learned that my birth mother had eventually regretted giving me up and has been searching for me for a long time.

The bombshell for me is that I have a brother. Not step or half but a same-mom-and-dad brother. He's just a few years younger than me and he lives only 3 hours away!

I had my cousin give him my number and he is supposed to call me tonight. I've never been this nervous/excited/insecure/anxious before. My cousin told me over text that he was excited but very upset over the lost time. I learned that he was never told that his mom had given up a baby for adoption.

He was an only child so I just can't wait to tell him that he is not alone anymore!

This has been the most amazing and beautiful experience of my life and I just wanted to share it with everyone here. If anyone has had any similar experiences with long lost loved ones please share them!

Wow! Enjoy!

Outstanding story and I’m happy that you are getting the opportunity to meet and talk with everyone.

wow!

Amazing!


Look them up on facebook! Sometimes it's a good way to get a good feel for someone if you find them there.

This is the definition of life changing. Congratulations.

Thanks guys.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
Amazing!


Look them up on facebook! Sometimes it's a good way to get a good feel for someone if you find them there.

Oh don't worry. I'm good at facebook stalking. lol
So far what I've found leads me to believe they are good people. I would never put politics into this situation but the icing on the cake is that they are all staunch Trump and gun rights supporters.

Lifes a trip, que no?

Just a crazy, wonderful and brilliant happening. I wish you and your new found family life and love. You and your bro have some major catching up to do.

Very cool news! Prayin it is even more fulfilling than you can imagine

Wow, that’s crazy! I had a cousin come into the family out of nowhere about 15 years ago. She never knew about us and only 3 people in my family knew she was out there somewhere. She and I now live about 5 minutes apart and she’s a full part of the family. So are her adopted parents and adopted siblings.

We’ve all gotten to know each other. It had been a great experience. I hope and pray it goes equally as well for you! Enjoy it all!

That is so freaking cool Ryan!!! I hope your brother calls you and start getting to know each other.

What a wonderful outcome! I wish you and your new extended family all the best! Through DNA testing I've found a few distance relations (4th through 6th Cousins) but my family was such that it is very unlikely that any unknown close relative would crop up.

flashguy

Box a chocolates ain't it?!
God bless & good luck!

Almost 15-years ago, I discovered I had a half-brother. He was an opps my dad had when he was 18; took a ride on the neighborhood bike and got lucky. My parents didn't tell us at all, until he seeked-out my dad, looking to connect and move past his own history. Today, we're all-good, he's got a family, their kids are doing good work and they come out to visit usually every other year, with phone calls and holiday cards in-between. The weird part is he looks much more like my dad than I do

Take it slow, maybe establish some ground rules if there's some known sore spots or, skeletons in the closet. Otherwise, congratulations, emotions will likely flow, and that's ok.

10 years ago as an adoptee I received a call out of the blue from a lady who said she was my first cousin and she was on the phone with my bio sister.

After some cross checking and a few other things, it was very true and she was my true bio sister and my parents had 2 others after that.

I can tell you it's a very odd journey and it will have odd twists and turns. The first time you meet your sib you will compare arms, hands, mannerisms, hairlines and all kinds of stuff.

You'll also ask why your mom took the path she did. Prepare for some tough questions and answers too.

In my case it was all good and the answers were the expected ones. I'm on excellent terms with my bio family and they consider me one of them as thought I was also with them.

Whenever I go visit I'm given keys to the cars, told where the hidden housekey is and all the other indicia of family.

I either talk, email or text with them at least 3-4 days a week.

18 aunts and uncles and 150 first cousins.

Also, if you go back for a visit, you will, at first, be the outsider and viewed with skepticism but's temporary.

Enjoy the odd but rewarding journey very few will ever go on!

Congrats, how exciting. I have heard a lot of this type stuff lately with all the DNA tests.

Wow, that's great news. Congrats

This is so awesome, congrats! Enjoy your new found family!

Very Cool.

Congratulations!

I'm in a similar situation at 48 years old, in that a DNA test showed I have an older half sister. I found out a few weeks after my dad died last year. Of course, the obvious story would have been dad had a girlfriend, you get the idea, and thats what I was prepared for when I had a talk with mom. She needed a couple days to call me back, but the truth was far different, as she is mom's daughter. Due to what happened concerning the circumstances, there has been no contact, and I am sworn to secrecy to the rest of the family.