Sisters adopted into separate families find each other after 35 years
Two sisters adopted into separate families have found each other after 35 years of separation.
While Ashleigh Brown and Laurinda Collado were both born in the Dominican Republic to the same biological parents, they were adopted into two separate families located in different countries.
When Collado was five months old, she was adopted and raised as an only child in the U.S. Two years later, her sister Brown was born and adopted into a family at six weeks old in Barbados. They later moved to Niagara Falls, Ont.
The sisters were made aware of each other’s existence as teenagers, but had no clue where the other was. Collado said they spent years searching for each other.
“Ever since I was made aware of her existence, I was immediately on the search, trying to go on adoption websites and anything I could to try and find her,” she told CP24 on Friday. “I spent about 17 years trying to find her.”
It wasn’t until MyHeritage.com launched a new initiative called “DNA Quest” when the search took a turn. The program aimed to reunite adoptees with their biological family via a free at-home DNA test.
Laurinda Collado, who was separated from her sister for 35 years, can be seen in this photo when she was a child. (Supplied)
“I wrote them my story and I was chosen and they sent me a DNA test back and I had a few hits and then one day someone popped up and it said it could have been my sister or my aunt,” Brown said, while siting next to Collado at her Niagara Falls home.
“It was absolutely incredible. It was very surreal. A lot of tears of joy and disbelief. It was just it was so remarkable being able to, even before we met in person, just to go over the same things that we have in common,” Collado added.
Ashleigh Brown, who was separated from her sister for 35 years, can be seen in this photo when she was a child. (Supplied)
The sisters spent months speaking to each other over the phone and social media, and then eventually met in person in Niagara Falls three years ago. They are currently meeting for the second time in person following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It's a long time coming for sure. We talk every day via video chat and to finally be able to be sitting next to her and touch her and see her, it's a great feeling,” Collado said.
“We've really developed such an incredible strong bond over the three years that we've known each other now and we're like best friends.”
MyHeritage.com launched an initiative to reunite adoptees with their biological family via a free at-home DNA test.
Collado, who had been searching for her biological family for a while now, had actually found all of the members before finding Brown. She said she was able to introduce Brown to their biological father, grandmother, two more brothers, a sister and a half brother all living in the Dominican Republic.
Their biological mother had passed away six months before the sisters reunited. Their father recently passed away. The sisters said the loss of their parents has brought the two sisters even closer together.
Laurinda Collado visited her long lost sister Ashleigh Brown at her home in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (Supplied)
“It feels like a dream come true. It really does. Growing up and knowing that you have a sibling out there, especially in my case, since I grew up as an only child, I really had that extra longing to try and find her,” Collado said.
“It's just an absolutely amazing feeling. I still pinch myself every day. I catch myself just staring at her and feeling like I can't believe I'm finally looking at her.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. Both weren't expecting to meet someone special the night they crossed paths at a bar in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.
The House is on the brink of approving aid for Ukraine and Israel after months of struggle
The House is preparing in a rare Saturday session to approve US$95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.