In this riveting episode, Lesley takes us on a profound journey into the unexpected consequences of contemporary DNA tests. What's marketed as a tool to uncover "ancestry, traits, and health" for informed health decisions can, in reality, deliver life-altering bombshells.
Lesley's experience began innocently enough with a DNA test given to her on her birthday. Little did she know, this seemingly fun present would shatter her sense of self and family. The revelation that her father wasn't her biological dad sent shockwaves through her life.
Key Discussion Points:
- Impact of How Bad News is Delivered: Lesley shares insights into how the delivery of life-altering news can exacerbate its emotional impact.
- Secrets in Families: The complexities surrounding family secrets and the turbulence that arises when these secrets are unveiled.
- Reconfiguring Identity: The emotional journey of reconfiguring one's sense of self when faced with the revelation that a parent is not biological.
- Managing Unanswered Questions: Strategies for navigating the challenges of unanswered questions that emerge from these revelations.
- Navigating the Search for "New" Family: The emotional rollercoaster of seeking and meeting newfound family members, from the underwhelming to the overwhelming.
- Nature vs. Nurture Dance: An exploration of how our family experiences, both biological and chosen, shape our identities.
- Supportive Communities: Lesley highlights the supportive power of podcasts and Facebook communities in connecting with others who share similar experiences.
Lesley's honesty, warmth, and openness make this episode a compelling exploration of family, change, identity, and love.
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Additional links:
Books:
- Uprooted by Peter J. Boni (he was donor conceived in the 1950s and it includes his memoir and some history regarding artificial insemination).
- Inheritance by Dani Shapiro
- What Makes a Baby by Cory Silverberg
Facebook groups:
- We Are Donor Conceived
- DNA Surprises support group
- NPE Only: After the Discovery
Podcasts to listen to:
Find Julia:
Website: https://juliasamuel.co.uk/
Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe
Produced by Rutherford Productions
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