Dana Schmalenberg’s DNA Surprise
There is never a good time to discover that the man youâve called âDadâ for your entire life isnât biologically related to you, but I imagine that having this realization as he lays in a hospital bed, dying, must be among the worst.
In the season 7 finale of DNA Surprises, Dana Schmalenberg shares how she uncovered the truth that both of her parents held tightly until the day her father passed. She reveals the shocking truth about her biological father, a man who fathered 9 other children, many of whom share strange similarities.
Angela, Wyatt, Cassidy, and Codyâs DNA Surprise
How do you define family? For so many of us, DNA surprises have made us reflect deeply on this question. For Wyatt, Cassidy, Cody, and Angela, the answer is different depending on who you ask.
Twenty-plus years ago when Wyatt, Cassidy, and Cody were born, fertility clinics didnât advocate for disclosure. So when their mother and father asked Angela, a clinic employee whoâd befriended their mom, to donate her eggs for their subsequent pregnancies, they opted to position Angela as more of a family friend.
Their families kept in touch over the years, until contact suddenly stopped. After many twists and turns, today, their family looks different to each of them. Wyatt lives with Angela, her husband, and their biological and adopted children. Cassidy views Angela more like a fun aunt. Meanwhile, Codyâs relationship is a little more distant.
In this weekâs episode, the four of them discuss their journeys from the beginning to where things are now. They also share what changes theyâd like to see in the fertility industry.
Youâll hear throughout the episode that each of the siblings has a different perspective on their stories, from when they found out to how they found out. I wonât get on my soapbox again, but I believe this highlights the importance for each of us to be entitled to our own feelings about our own stories.
Thank you to Angela, Wyatt, Cody, and Cassidy for sharing your stories.
Lisa S’ DNA Surprise
Many of us who have had DNA surprises spend some time wondering âWhat if?â What if weâd been raised in a different house, with our newly discovered biological parent? What if weâd known the truth from the beginning? What would our lives look like now? Would they be better? OrâŠwould they be worse?
In this weekâs episode, Lisa shares how she uncovered her shocking DNA surprise, learning that her biological father is her dadâs best friend. She shares how sheâs built beautiful relationships with her newfound family, which has led to her wonder what life would have been like if sheâd known them earlier. Ultimately, she reveals why she believes everything it happened as it should.
Pat’s DNA Surprise
Picture this: you grow up with a sibling who is convinced they are not your dadâs biological child. No one knows about DNA surprises or NPEs or anything like that, but they just know their dad isn’t THEIR dad. Years later, after commercial DNA testing becomes commonplace, you offer them some peace of mind. All of your siblings take a test to prove, once and for all, that your parents are the biological parents of all of your siblings.
ExceptâŠthey arenât. Only itâs not your sibling who is the NPE. Itâs you. In this weekâs episode, Pat shares how she learned in her sixties that she doesnât share a biological father with her siblings. She discusses how she was able to piece together a story long after the main players have passed, and how sheâs forged new relationships with found family.
Ray’s DNA Surprise
Imagine being 16 and witnessing your parentsâ divorce. Imagine finding out at this time that the man who raised you is not your biological father. After finding your biological father and failing to connect, you go through the next three decades just living your life. You have a child. You get married. You get divorced. And then you take a DNA test and experience a DNA surprise all over again. Only this time, the truth is closer to home than you imagine. In this weekâs episode
In this weekâs episode, Ray shares his remarkable DNA surprise journey, including how he finally discovered the true identity of his biological father.
Jenniffer’s DNA Surprise
Welcome to Season 7 of DNA Surprises. In the first episode of the season, Jenniffer shares how she unraveled her mother’s deep secrets via DNA testing. Jenniffer talks about growing up in a Venezuelan family, fostered at times by her paternal grandparents, only to discover later in life that she shares no DNA with them. In addition, she learned that all of her raised siblings share different fathers. We discuss how the discovery impacted her and her siblings, how sheâs building relationships with her newfound family, and how sheâs moving toward acceptance.
Jamie’s DNA Surprise
Welcome to the season 6 finale of DNA Surprises. In this weekâs episode, Jamie bravely shares her DNA surprise journey, which began 5 years ago with a 23&Me test.
Jamieâs story encapsulates many parts of the DNA surprise stories we hear. She shares how her NPE came as a complete surprise. Her story includes an ethnic shift, from Italian to Portuguese, rejection AND acceptance, family estrangement, secrecy, and openness. and mental health issues. She also touches on her experience as a recipient parent of an egg donation and how her NPE has reaffirmed her commitment to be transparent with her daughter.Â
Jamie acknowledges that while her journey ebbs and flows, sheâs living life on her own terms now and is dedicated to welcoming relationships that nourish her.
Michelle Tullier’s DNA Surprise
One of the most healing things that we can do during our DNA surprise journeys is to write about them. In this week’s episode, I’m joined by author Michelle Tullier. Michelle talks about her journey of finding out the truth, her initial reaction to her discovery, and how she has processed the emotions and navigated her new relationships. She also discusses the importance of therapy and writing in her healing process, as well as her plans to publish a memoir about her experience.
Thank you for sharing your story, Michelle.
Patrice’s DNA Surprise
Not many of us experience our DNA surprises on television, but this weekâs guest did exactly that. Patrice is a foundling adoptee, adopted at just a few months old after being abandoned in a garbage bin. She always knew she was adopted, but as an adult, she decided she wanted to look for her biological family.
The TLC show Long Lost Family shows her finding her biological sister, but much more happened behind the scenes. She shares what happened when she reunited with her biological mother and how it changed her perspective on her story.
She also discusses how sheâs used her experiences to advocate and provide support for her community.
Gerard’s DNA Surprise
This weekâs DNA surprise story is told from a side we havenât heard from yet – a found father. When Gerard received an email from a man claiming to be his son, he wasnât sure what to think. He soon discovered that unbeknownst to him, he was the father of a 30-something-year-old man who had been adopted as an infant.
Gerard shares how he pieced together who the mother of his son was and how he reconnected with her. He also discusses how supportive his wife and daughters have been as he builds a relationship with his son.
Gerardâs story is one that many in the DNA surprise community hope for – heâs accepting, open, and seeks to understand how to best fit into his sonâs life.