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
- Joel Embiid finally discovers he has the DNA of a champion. Down 2-1, can he lead the Sixers past the Knicks? - The Philadelphia Inquirer - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Unraveling DNA's role in pop culturefrom superheroes to crime scenes - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Elucidation of inhibitory effects of bioactive anthraquinones towards formation of DNA advanced glycation end products ... - ScienceDirect.com - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- DNA Testing Proved My Innocence of My Son's Murder - Innocence Project - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Generative A.I. Arrives in the Gene Editing World of CRISPR - The New York Times - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Persistent TFIIH binding to non-excised DNA damage causes cell and developmental failure - Nature.com - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Enhanced CRISPR method enables stable insertion of large genes into the DNA of higher plants - Phys.org - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Scientists inspired the right guardrails for nuclear energy, the internet, and DNA research. Let them do the same for AI - Fortune - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Test your dog's DNA to learn about their heritage and health for only $120 - New York Post - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Earth Life Biodiversity: Vast DNA Tree Of life For Flowering Plants Revealed - Astrobiology - Astrobiology News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise Share Some Very Stylish DNA - Vogue - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- DNA evidence leads to arrest of 75-year-old Auburn man - Opelika Auburn News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Putnam NY cold case: DNA test finds skeleton is not Robin Murphy's - The Journal News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Ancient nomads you've probably never heard of disappeared from Europe 1,000 years ago. Now, DNA analysis ... - The Conversation - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Genetics Studies Have a Diversity Problem That Researchers Struggle To Fix - Kaiser Health News - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Keeping Telomeres in Their Places - The Scientist - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- WWII veteran Ward Thomas identified through genealogy testing - 10TV - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Vast DNA tree of life for plants revealed by global science team using 1.8 billion letters of genetic code - Phys.org - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- Here is a look at one of the labs that helped uncover new DNA evidence in Lake Oconee murder - WSB Atlanta - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- This Guardians prospect has baseball in his DNA - 1330 WFIN - April 27th, 2024 [April 27th, 2024]
- DNA identifies last known remains of victims of notorious Green River Killer, cops say - Miami Herald - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- UNE to study why rare lobsters have strange-colored shells - Spectrum News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA evidence identifies last known victim of Green River Killer almost 40 years later - NBC Right Now - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- New bill would give California parents more control over whether state can store their kid's DNA - CBS News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Lucas County Sheriff's Office doing advanced testing on DNA found at site of 2011 Clarke and Straub murders - WTOL - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Last known remains connected to the Green River Killer identified through DNA | WTGS - Fox28 Savannah - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 5 Best Ancestry DNA Tests 2024 To Help You Learn More About Your Health - GLAMOUR UK - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 11 Investigates: Lucas County Sheriff's Office doing advanced testing on DNA found at site of 2011 Clarke and Straub murders - WTOL - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Researchers improve blood tests' ability to detect and monitor cancer - MIT News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA test approved for Duxbury's Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her 3 children - The Patriot Ledger - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 1,650th victim of 9/11 identified through advanced DNA testing - FOX 17 West Michigan News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- We Think Cavco Industries (NASDAQ:CVCO) Might Have The DNA Of A Multi-Bagger - Yahoo Finance - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA From the Ocean's 'Twilight Zone' Could Lead to New Lifesaving Drugs, Scientists Say - Smithsonian Magazine - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Last known remains connected to the Green River Killer identified through DNA - KOMO News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- 9/11 victim identified as John Ballantine Niven of Oyster Bay with help of DNA technology - WABC-TV - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Scott Peterson has every right to DNA test: Attorney from case - NewsNation Now - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DNA from stone age chewing gum sheds light on diet and disease in Scandinavia's ancient hunter-gatherers - The Conversation - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Barbara Lee responds to Nikki Haley: Racism is in the DNA of this country - The Hill - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- DB Cooper 'will finally be identified' after 53 years due to huge DNA breakthrough - LADbible - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Dog Owners Who Abandon Poops To Be Found Using DNA Tests in Italy - Newsweek - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Scientists gather bobcat DNA from paw prints - KJZZ - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Discovering Fusions Requires More Than DNA Testing in GI Cancers - OncLive - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Largest-ever ocean DNA study uncovers mysteries of marine life - Earth.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- 1st-ever ancient case of Turner syndrome, with just 1 X chromosome instead of 2, found in ancient DNA - Livescience.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Minnesota Mother Calls on NYS to Allow DNA Testing Finger Lakes Daily News - Finger Lakes Daily News - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DNA Didn't Match Marcellus Williams. Missouri May Fast-Track Execution Anyway. - The Intercept - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA From Eurasian Herders Sheds Light on the Origins of Multiple Sclerosis - Smithsonian Magazine - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DNA's hotel toh kuyabeh mirrors bird flight undulations in tulum - Designboom - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Research into ancient DNA sheds new light on cause of Multiple Sclerosis and other neurodegenerative diseases - University of Oxford - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA reveals reason for high MS and Alzheimer's rates in Europe - University of Cambridge news - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- TIME-seq reduces time and cost of DNA methylation measurement for epigenetic clock construction - Nature.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Gilgo Serial Killer Suspect Rex Heuermann Tied to Slaying by DNA From Daughter's Can of Coffee: Prosecutors - The Messenger - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- DNA evidence leads to arrest of Denton sexual assault suspect - The Cross Timbers Gazette - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA reveals reason for high multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's rates in Europe - EurekAlert - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- New technique identifies earliest cases of genetic disorders from ancient DNA - University of Oxford - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA could be hiding all kinds of health secrets - Deccan Herald - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Ancient DNA reveals reason for high MS and Alzheimer's rates in Europe - ScienceBlog.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Supreme Court seeks government's view on DNA profiling of unidentified bodies - IndiaTimes - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Prosecution Ordered to Release Portion of DNA Evidence to Kohberger's Defense Team - bigcountrynewsconnection.com - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Judge orders more DNA disclosure in University of Idaho murder case - KXLY Spokane - January 16th, 2024 [January 16th, 2024]
- Cas9-induced targeted integration of large DNA payloads in primary human T cells via homology-mediated end-joining ... - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- The DNA glycosylase NEIL2 is protective during SARS-CoV-2 infection - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- How an immune response is driven by one letter difference in DNA - Medical Xpress - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Tracy Morgan Discovered He Was Related to Nas After DNA Test - PEOPLE - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Scientists testify about DNA in third week of Aguirre trial - The Spokesman Review - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- DNA metabarcoding focusing on the plankton community: an effective approach to reconstruct the paleo-environment ... - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Advancement in DNA Technology and Tenacity of Cold Case Detective Identifies Victim in 37-year-old Homicide - hellowoodlands.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Integrating DNA methylation and gene expression data in a single gene network using the iNETgrate package ... - Nature.com - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Forensic scientist testifies about evidence contamination at state lab in 1986, says knowledge of DNA has since ... - The Spokesman Review - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Tracy Morgan Discovers He Is Related To Nas Through DNA Test - BET - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- DNA discovery opens door to tailored medicine for Indigenous Australians | Australian National University - ANU - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Tracy Morgan Started Crying After Learning Hes Related To Nas Through A DNA Test - TODAY - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Electric eel zaps do more than just stun they can alter the DNA of their victims, study suggests - Salon - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Blueface Says He Took a DNA Test That Proves He's Not the Father of Chrisean Rock's Son: 'Thank You Jesus' - Complex - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Altina Wildlife Park to use DNA tests to find mystery father of black-and-white ruffed lemur triplets - ABC News - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- In the Shadow of Rome: Ancient DNA Recasts Balkan History - SciTechDaily - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Even microbes felt the impact of ancient climate transitions, McMaster DNA researchers find - Brighter World - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Clarence 'Red' Wilson cold case murder: DNA helps Montgomery County detective break 37-year unsolved Texas homicide - KTRK-TV - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- How Construction Companies Can Make Diversity Part of Their DNA - For Construction Pros - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- DNA analysis of bat droppings shows astonishingly high number of insect species - Phys.org - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]