The Secret In My DNA

Debbie and her siblings were told as children that their birth father abandoned them. Eventually, when questions were raised, they were told their birth father had died. As an adult, in the hopes of finding relatives on her father's side, Debbie took an Ancestry DNA test and was contacted by an unknown half-sister who would also have some very shocking news.  Email: [email protected]  Instagram: @The_EmpowermentCoach

The lovely Lily Wood, podcast host of NPE Stories, talks about her DNA discovery and how her journey inspired her to become a sounding board for other NPE's and give them a platform to share their experience.   

An NPE torn between keeping her mother's secret and living her truth. Throughout her journey, Crystal has a healthy outlook on life and wonderful advice for new NPE's.  She and her wife have started a podcast of their own called "Truth Camp." Instagram: Truth.Camp 

In 2017, Cassandra is part of a research study through 23&Me for people with a family history of depression and bi-polar disorder. She subsequently receives a free DNA test kit and unwittingly discovers that she is donor-conceived. She is shocked to learn of a new ethnical identity and new siblings that she knew nothing about for 35 years. 

A one-night wife-swap between friends in the 70's, results in a pregnancy, and the secret is kept for decades. This is a true story filled with happiness, sadness, anger, rejection, love and at the heart of it all, an extraordinary woman who is handling her journey with grace and compassion and is on her own amazing path of healing. 

In 2018, Allison takes a direct-to-consumer DNA test for fun and unwittingly finds out that her mother has been untruthful about her parentage for over 50 years. Allison authentically shares her story in the hope that other victims of paternity fraud and emotional abuse will not feel alone on their journey. 

Three different men have stepped up to be a father for Crystal. One is a step-father and two men who are potential birth fathers. But which man will a DNA test finally reveal to be the real birth father and how does Harley Davidson underwear from the 80's hilariously fit into the story? Sit down... this one's a doozy.   

All too often we are shamed for telling our story. It is either asked for or demanded that we stay silent all for someone else's self-preservation or to avoid embarrassing the family. Like we're some kind of dirty little secret. I've experienced it and so have many fellow NPE's. In this short bonus episode, I have some things to say about it to my own family and other suppressors of truth. 

A narcissistic, victim-playing mother only interested in her own self-preservation, a cousin who finally steps up and reveals a family secret, a birth father who rejects his newfound daughter because his controlling 2nd wife is possessive and selfish and the NPE at the heart of it all who is ready to tell her story and navigate her journey with grace and bravery. 

In 2019, Brad discovers that he is a late discovery adoptee when a stranger, who turns out to be his biological aunt, makes the connection from his DNA on Ancestry.  Throughout his journey, he enjoys writing to help organize his thoughts and better navigate his story. Here are some links to his articles:  https://severancemag.com/an-unexpected-abandonment/ https://severancemag.com/why-dont-men-want-to-talk-about-it/ https://severancemag.com/watching-and-waiting/