Rhode Island native, more than a dozen surprise siblings connect through 23andMe
by TEMI-TOPE ADELEYE, NBC 10 NEWS
WJAR) — A Texas woman with ties to Rhode Island is sharing how a DNA kit connected her to more than a dozen siblings.
Amanda Brown was on a mission to learn more about her family’s medical history.
“I had taken 23andMe to try to find out more about my health and I knew my father was a sperm donor,” said Brown.
But her results revealed that her family tree had a few extra branches.
“There are 15 of us because our father is a sperm donor and he was actually going through medical school,” said Brown. “[He was] looking for a way to pay his way through medical school.”
Amanda Brown was on a mission to learn more about her family’s medical history. (WJAR)
In the past four years, she has connected with several of her siblings.
But this year, she connected with four more, including a Rhode Island native.
“When I looked him up on Facebook, I saw how many mutual friends we had and that he had gone to PC [Providence College] at the same time as me,” said Brown. “So he’s a couple years younger that he was actually really close with one of my roommates at the time.”
Joe, who would like to remain anonymous, was right under her nose.
He sat down with NBC 10’s Temi-Tope Adeleye to share his unique story.
“Being able to connect with other people and kind of hear the way they talk and hear some of their intonations, like wow we actually talk very similarly or have similar interests just based on you now shared heritage,” said Joe. “It’s astounding what you can find between nature and nurture.”
Joe, who would like to remain anonymous sat down with NBC 10’s Temi-Tope Adeleye to share his unique story. (WJAR)
Both Brown and Joe have met their biological father, now building a bond with him and some of their siblings.
“So I’ve created an entire Google Drive with all of our health history compiled, about me sections for everybody, quick facts and a whole real onboarding journey,” said Brown.
Their siblings can be found all across the country, in California, Wisconsin, Texas, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Brown and Joe said there is a possibility there could be more out there.
“If they’re going to keep coming this quickly, there has to be some sort of process where we help them and welcome them,” said Brown.
They did have one sibling, who died of cancer last year.
Family is important to Brown. It is why she plans to start her own fertility journey with her partner.
They plan to freeze embryos and donate unused ones.
“Just to give folks the opportunity to have a kid, who really want a kid and can’t,” said Brown. “That will be really exciting if that does come to fruition.”
In the spirit of family and togetherness, NBC 10 asked Joe what the Thanksgiving means to him.
“Obviously it’s a day about family and that’s what it’s always been at the core,” said Joe. “So being able to find that family that you didn’t know you had and those shared experiences. That’s really, what’s it’s all about.”
Joe encourages people to use DNA kits like 23andMe to learn more about themselves and families, especially if they have questions regarding biological family members.