Thank you, Kate, for one of those rare stories that are both harrowing and heart-swelling. I celebrate the welcoming family you have found. As the wife of an ardent and informed genealogist who has worked for decades on a mystery in his family, I have seen time and again that some relatives do not want to be found lest a new and unsettling story unravel the one they know, and with it their sense of who they are in the world. You and your relatives have opened your minds and hearts to new stories. I wish you years and years together, and look forward to your book.
Navigating a DNA surprise is so complicated. Rejection. Acceptance. Identity. Thank you for so eloquently sharing your journey. We all have a right to see yourself in someone else, to know our family, to know our roots.
Excellent B.K. ! I am so glad you have such a wonderful connection with siblings and family you never knew. You know my DNA story and now I know yours thanks to your wonderful essay about your incredible story. I cannot wait to read your book! ~ Laura Engel
Wow, what a beautifully haunting piece. What I've come to view as "mother-grief" manifests for many of us differently, yet seemingly universally, on so many levels. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful essay, B.K. and so many gorgeous images. What a roller coaster quest! I admire your tenacity and am so happy that you've found happiness, peace, and family amidst the lies and heartbreak. Thank you for sharing your story!
This piece was absolutely brilliant especially the analogy of putting the pieces of the puzzle back together. I found out almost three years ago that my father isn't my biological father by taking a DNA test. My parents had trouble conceiving children, and they went to sperm donation route. The brother I was raised with my half-brother, another shock. So far, I have found that I have two more brothers and two sisters - these four range from ages 11-19. I am 31, so I am unable to contact any of them at this time. My biological father and paternal grandmother will not have any contact with me, but I am fortunate that an aunt (bio father's half-sister) and her immediate family have welcomed me with open arms. We plan to meet this Labor Day weekend for the first time.
Gorgeous writing, Kate. I was hooked from the opening lines until the end. Such persistence, exploring The Bone Deep Ache that wouldn't quit. And what a reminder that sometimes the universe delivers exactly what we need to become more whole, fulfilled and loved.
What a beautifully written, tender and poignant story. I was rapt from start to finish. The story of our roots and ancestors is such an important piece of who we are. I'm so glad you got to find some answers. Thank you for sharing your journey ❤
Thank you for this fascinating true story. It reads like an exciting novel, yet your emotions thread through it, so we appreciate the joy and sadness you experienced.
Wow. What a story with some twists and turns one could never have expected. So many family secrets. What a complicated woman your mother was. Every paragraph pulled me deeper into this story as you try to make sense of how it changes what you thought your story was.
Thank you, Kate, for one of those rare stories that are both harrowing and heart-swelling. I celebrate the welcoming family you have found. As the wife of an ardent and informed genealogist who has worked for decades on a mystery in his family, I have seen time and again that some relatives do not want to be found lest a new and unsettling story unravel the one they know, and with it their sense of who they are in the world. You and your relatives have opened your minds and hearts to new stories. I wish you years and years together, and look forward to your book.
Navigating a DNA surprise is so complicated. Rejection. Acceptance. Identity. Thank you for so eloquently sharing your journey. We all have a right to see yourself in someone else, to know our family, to know our roots.
Excellent B.K. ! I am so glad you have such a wonderful connection with siblings and family you never knew. You know my DNA story and now I know yours thanks to your wonderful essay about your incredible story. I cannot wait to read your book! ~ Laura Engel
Wow, what a beautifully haunting piece. What I've come to view as "mother-grief" manifests for many of us differently, yet seemingly universally, on so many levels. Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful essay, B.K. and so many gorgeous images. What a roller coaster quest! I admire your tenacity and am so happy that you've found happiness, peace, and family amidst the lies and heartbreak. Thank you for sharing your story!
This piece was absolutely brilliant especially the analogy of putting the pieces of the puzzle back together. I found out almost three years ago that my father isn't my biological father by taking a DNA test. My parents had trouble conceiving children, and they went to sperm donation route. The brother I was raised with my half-brother, another shock. So far, I have found that I have two more brothers and two sisters - these four range from ages 11-19. I am 31, so I am unable to contact any of them at this time. My biological father and paternal grandmother will not have any contact with me, but I am fortunate that an aunt (bio father's half-sister) and her immediate family have welcomed me with open arms. We plan to meet this Labor Day weekend for the first time.
Gorgeous writing, Kate. I was hooked from the opening lines until the end. Such persistence, exploring The Bone Deep Ache that wouldn't quit. And what a reminder that sometimes the universe delivers exactly what we need to become more whole, fulfilled and loved.
This was such a gorgeous read. It was gripping, raw, and just beautifully written. Brava!
Well written. You’ll find many parallels in my memoir if and when I ever get around to publishing it.
What a beautifully written, tender and poignant story. I was rapt from start to finish. The story of our roots and ancestors is such an important piece of who we are. I'm so glad you got to find some answers. Thank you for sharing your journey ❤
Thank you for this fascinating true story. It reads like an exciting novel, yet your emotions thread through it, so we appreciate the joy and sadness you experienced.
Wow. What a story with some twists and turns one could never have expected. So many family secrets. What a complicated woman your mother was. Every paragraph pulled me deeper into this story as you try to make sense of how it changes what you thought your story was.