SANDI Sandrik, 51, a nurse, lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with husband Ken, 55, a warehouse driver.<\/p>\n
She describes the remarkable story of how she found out her colleague was her brother. <\/p>\n
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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.<\/p>\n
I had no idea that I was adopted until I was 11, when a friend blurted it out.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Although some people in our town were already aware, it was a complete shock to me.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
In 1985, aged 15, I met Ken, and we married two years later when I was pregnant with our eldest child Ryan, now 33.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Sadly, my mum died in September 2013, followed by my dad in August 2016.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Shed promised my parents not to contact me while they were alive, but said shed always wanted me in her life.<\/p>\n
She explained how shed become pregnant at 20 while dating a man called Gary, but that she was still in love with her ex.<\/p>\n
Adoption within the family seemed the best thing to do, so she handed me over to Mum and Dad and lost touch with Gary.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But then my kids paid for me to have a DNA test in November 2017.<\/p>\n
The manufacturer connects you with other genetic relatives, and I realised this could be a way to track down my dad.<\/p>\n
Six months later, I connected with a cousin, who shared Garys Facebook profile with me.<\/p>\n
I didnt see anything of myself in him, and it took me two months to send him a message to introduce myself.<\/p>\n
As time went on and I didnt get a reply, I tried not to think about him.<\/p>\n
Then in summer 2019, a new nurse called Allen started at my work.<\/p>\n
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He was kind, thoughtful and like me calm under pressure, and I liked him immediately.<\/p>\n
He kept saying he was sure that he knew me from somewhere, but I just shrugged it off.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Id occasionally check Garys Facebook profile, still hopeful that hed reply, but he never did.<\/p>\n
It was in December 2020, while looking through Garys friends list, that I spotted Allen.<\/p>\n
When I saw him at work next, I asked how he knew my biological father Gary.<\/p>\n
Oh my god, he replied. Hes my dad, too.<\/p>\n
Bursting into tears, he pulled me into a hug, saying he was overjoyed.<\/p>\n
Back home, I told Ken. Like me, he was in disbelief.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Allen wasnt close to Gary, but he was in his life. As we shared our stories, I felt our connection grow.<\/p>\n
When we had a family meal in January 2021, I invited Allen and his wife Stacie to join us, and it was lovely.<\/p>\n
Later that week, Allen spoke to Gary, who initially denied everything.<\/p>\n
I can understand his reaction it was a shock for us all but he agreed to meet me at a lunch Allen organised.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
My relationship with Allen has gone from strength to strength. Hes now close to my husband and kids, and we speak constantly.<\/p>\n
My advice to anyone thinking of doing a DNA test is to be careful as there are many peoples feelings involved.<\/p>\n
But for me, discovering Allen was the most wonderful surprise of all.<\/p>\n
*name has been changed<\/p>\n
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\nA DNA test revealed my colleague was my brother he kept saying he knew me from somewhere but I shrugged i... - The Sun<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"