A DNA test revealed my colleague was my brother he kept saying he knew me from somewhere but I shrugged i… – The Sun

SANDI Sandrik, 51, a nurse, lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with husband Ken, 55, a warehouse driver.

She describes the remarkable story of how she found out her colleague was her brother.

5

5

Looking around the table, I smiled at my colleague Allen, who I was hosting for dinner. What was incredible was I had just learnt he was also my brother.

I had no idea that I was adopted until I was 11, when a friend blurted it out.

When I asked my parents, they admitted that my biological mum, named Anna, was a distant relative of the man I knew as my father.

Although some people in our town were already aware, it was a complete shock to me.

I loved my parents so much, I couldnt bring myself to ask more questions in case it hurt them, but I never stopped wondering, and as a teenager, I developed a fear of rejection.

In 1985, aged 15, I met Ken, and we married two years later when I was pregnant with our eldest child Ryan, now 33.

Life was good, and we went on to have our daughter, Hali, 30, and another son, Eric, 29, and I trained to be a nurse.

Sadly, my mum died in September 2013, followed by my dad in August 2016.

I was swimming in grief the night Dad died, when my phone lit up with a text from my biological mother Anna, whod got my number through family.

Shed promised my parents not to contact me while they were alive, but said shed always wanted me in her life.

She explained how shed become pregnant at 20 while dating a man called Gary, but that she was still in love with her ex.

Adoption within the family seemed the best thing to do, so she handed me over to Mum and Dad and lost touch with Gary.

I found out I also had a half-sister, Sophie*, now 52, and after messaging and talking on the phone for many months, in February 2017, I met both Anna and Sophie, and I felt a connection straight away.

We have a great relationship now, but it was a lot to take in, so for a long time I didnt even think about trying to find my biological father, too.

But then my kids paid for me to have a DNA test in November 2017.

The manufacturer connects you with other genetic relatives, and I realised this could be a way to track down my dad.

Six months later, I connected with a cousin, who shared Garys Facebook profile with me.

I didnt see anything of myself in him, and it took me two months to send him a message to introduce myself.

As time went on and I didnt get a reply, I tried not to think about him.

Then in summer 2019, a new nurse called Allen started at my work.

5

5

He was kind, thoughtful and like me calm under pressure, and I liked him immediately.

He kept saying he was sure that he knew me from somewhere, but I just shrugged it off.

Meanwhile, Id occasionally check Garys Facebook profile, still hopeful that hed reply, but he never did.

It was in December 2020, while looking through Garys friends list, that I spotted Allen.

When I saw him at work next, I asked how he knew my biological father Gary.

Oh my god, he replied. Hes my dad, too.

Bursting into tears, he pulled me into a hug, saying he was overjoyed.

Back home, I told Ken. Like me, he was in disbelief.

Allen and I exchanged numbers, and over the next few days I learned he was five years older than me and was three when Gary divorced his mum.

Allen wasnt close to Gary, but he was in his life. As we shared our stories, I felt our connection grow.

When we had a family meal in January 2021, I invited Allen and his wife Stacie to join us, and it was lovely.

Later that week, Allen spoke to Gary, who initially denied everything.

I can understand his reaction it was a shock for us all but he agreed to meet me at a lunch Allen organised.

I was nervous, but it was really nice to be together. Gary and I are now slowly getting to know each other, though weve not discussed much of the past yet.

My relationship with Allen has gone from strength to strength. Hes now close to my husband and kids, and we speak constantly.

My advice to anyone thinking of doing a DNA test is to be careful as there are many peoples feelings involved.

But for me, discovering Allen was the most wonderful surprise of all.

*name has been changed

5

We pay for your stories!

Do you have a story for The Sun news desk?

The rest is here:
A DNA test revealed my colleague was my brother he kept saying he knew me from somewhere but I shrugged i... - The Sun