DNA Surprises

Welcome to the season 10 finale of DNA Surprises. Buy one, get two. No, this isn’t an ad for the latest testing kit sale. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Dave and Denise, a married couple who discovered that they were both NPEs after their grandson took a DNA test.

Before you listen to this episode, I want to take a moment to remind listeners that family secrets like these don’t stay hidden in the modern age of DNA testing, and Dave and Denise are a great example of this. They didn’t uncover their surprises because they took a test. Even their grown children wouldn’t have surfaced the secret. It was their curious grandson with a love of genealogy and heritage who led to the truth. For both of them.

Thanks to Dave and Denise for sharing their stories.

When someone uncovers a DNA surprise, their family tree changes. That sounds simple, but the reality is that our roots, so many of the things that make us, us, come from generations before us. In this week’s episode Melissa shares her profound journey after discovering that the man who raised her is not her biological father. 

From uncovering clues in her late grandmother's writings to learning about her biological father's tumultuous past and building new relationships with half-siblings, Melissa delves into the complex emotions and revelations that emerged along the way. Through her genealogical research, Melissa connects with her ancestral roots, understanding more about her family's history and the legacies that shape her identity. 

Thank you for sharing your story, Melissa.

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If we don’t laugh, we’ll cry. DNA surprises can be gut-wrenching and difficult experiences, but some of us can find humor in almost any situation. In this week’s laughter-filled episode, Lauren LoGuidice tells the story of how she learned she was donor conceived. 

Lauren discusses how she never fit in with her raised family but was regularly dismissed and gaslit when she questioned why she looked so different. She shares how she connected with her donor-conceived siblings, her genetic father, and how things are with her parents today.

She doesn’t disguise her journey with humor, rather, she infuses it into her storytelling. You can check out Lauren’s comedy, including the latest on her upcoming film, at her website linked in the show notes.

Thank you for sharing your story, Lauren.

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Imagine uncovering your DNA surprise, experiencing the shock and devastation that comes with it, and then learning that the surprise wasn’t a total surprise after all? Earlier this season, we heard a story like this, and in this week’s episode, you’ll hear another.

When Tamara confronted her mom about her DNA surprise, she was shocked to learn that they’d already discussed it when she was younger. For some reason the memory didn’t stick with her, and when she learned the truth,it came back to her. Yet she still had to contend with this revelation as though she was hearing it for the first time.

Tamara details her search for her biological father after being given incorrect information and facing roadblocks from her found family. Just before we recorded our interview, she got a surprise that gave her the answers she was looking for.

Thank you for sharing your story, Tamara.