A DNA test offered at Christmas has turned the lives of two families living in the West Midlands county, England, upside down. It revealed that two babies born in 1967 at the same hospital within hours of each other were switched at birth, the BBC reports.
In 2021, a man nicknamed Tony by the British media, who wished to remain anonymous, receives a DNA test kit for Christmas. Two months later, when his weekly golf session is canceled due to rain, he decides to use it without expecting a big revelation.
Inconsistencies in results
The results, received by email, initially seemed to meet his expectations. They confirm his Irish origins on his mother's side and mention a sister born in 1967. However, upon closer inspection, he notices that the name given is not that of Jessica, his sister, but of Claire. Intrigued, Tony decides to investigate and contacts the latter.
The Briton had also carried out a DNA test two years earlier, received as a birthday present. His results seemed strange to him. His origins didn't really match those of his parents, and an unknown cousin appeared on his family tree. “If you want to leave it at that, I would definitely agree and we won't go any further,” Tony offers. Claire refuses and wants to understand what could have happened.
An exchange in the nursery
Tony informs his mother, Joan, of the results. She remembers well the day her daughter was born, which she had hoped for for a long time after having three boys. Planned at home, the delivery ultimately took place at the hospital due to high blood pressure. Her daughter was born on a Sunday at 10:20 p.m. before being taken to the nursery. Shortly after, another little girl, born in the same hospital, was also taken there. This is the baby she will be entrusted with the next day.
The meeting between Claire and her biological family finally took place. Upon discovering her biological mother, Claire says she had the feeling of having known her forever. “I was like, 'Oh my God, I have the same eyes!' “, she remembers. The two women, who share common interests, even went to Ireland together. “I would like to spend as much time with them as possible, but that time is wasted. He was taken away from us,” confides Claire, who will never meet her biological father, who is now deceased.
Jessica was obviously made aware of the situation. Since this discovery, she no longer calls Joan “mom”, unlike Claire. But “it makes no difference to me that Jessica is not my biological daughter,” she said. She remains my daughter and always will be. »
Tony wrote to the hospital to explain the situation and ask for an explanation. Contacted by the BBC, the latter described the baby swap as a “terrible mistake” and acknowledged his legal responsibility. However, he indicated that it was a “unique and complex case”. The amount of compensation has not yet been determined.
