Sisters Find Each Other after DNA Test
“Sandie Lee said she often felt lonely growing up. Adopted by her parents as an infant, she said they tended to be overprotective of their only child as they raised her is a small British town in the 1950s.
As a teen, she became more curious about her birth family after stumbling across a document listing her birthmother’s name, but she didn’t attempt to obtain her original birth certificate until years later after moving to Australia and later New Zealand. As it turns out, British law makes it extremely difficult to do long-distance for people adopted before 1978.
But, them she had another idea. In 2018, she took a DNA test,hoping to find a cousin or distant relative who could help her learn more about her family roots.
The results revealed something she never expected
“I burst into tears. I just couldn’t believe it.” Lee, 68, said of the results. “All weekend I was in a daze because I thought I’ve been myself all this time and I have a sister. And when I contacted her, she said, ‘You have another sister.”
Only two months before, Carmel resident Debra Vallyl took the DNA test to learn about her ancestry. She was surprised to discover that she was only 53 percent British, but a much bigger shock was in store.
Weeks later, she received an email from Lee stating the DNA test showed they were sisters. Vallyl alerted her older sister Dorica Robinsen, who was just as shocked by the news.”
“Lee was born in Blackpool, 140 miles away from Leicester, but the adoption agency placed her with a family in Leicester, where her parents eventually relocated and is the birthplace of Vallyl and Robinsen.”
“As the sisters forged emotions bonds, they began planning a trip to meet in person.”
“Eventually, the sisters decided to visit Vallyl’s house because she has the most space to host guests. Robinsen and Lee flew into Chicago O’Hare airport minutes apart August 4 [2019].”
“The sisters drove to Carmel.”
“They’re spending a week in Indiana before heading to Nashville, Tennesee, where Vallyl’s daughter lives on their way to a week in Key West.”
[Current in Carmel 8/13/19 by Ann Marie Shambaugh]
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