DonorChildren

I was given a 23andMe DNA kit for Christmas. I didn’t really have any interest in sending it in, but I didn’t want to offend the gift giver. I decided it would be fun to find out how Italian I was. My father’s mother was born in Italy and his paternal grandparents were both born in Italy. My Dad and I have always been so close. I look so much like him and we have a lot in common. I have always loved his side of the family so much and have been so proud of my Italian heritage. Imagine my surprise when I got my results a few weeks ago and found out I am 0% Italian. I was so confused, I approached my parents the next day and did not get any answers. Over the next week I was filled with anxiety as I considered the possibilities. Was I switched at birth? Was my father? Was I adopted? Exactly one week after I had initially approached them, my parents asked my husband and I to come over. They started the conversation with “After we had been married for a while we tried and tried to get pregnant. We were having a hard time and so we went to the doctor for help…” I will never forget how I felt at that moment. I am 51-years-old and this was the first I had heard of this. I am still trying to come to terms with the shock and I am grieving. I have never met anyone else that is donor conceived. I have a husband, children and many close friends, but I am not sure any of them can really understood what I am feeling.