Woman Takes DNA Test, Unexpectedly Finds Out Her Dad Is Not Her Real Father

When a woman decided to take an at-home DNA test, she didn't know what she was signing up for. But the moment the results arrived, her emotions were all over the place, and her life was turned topsy-turvy most unexpectedly.

Life is a roller-coaster ride determined by the countless ups and downs. Sometimes, certain situations end up astounding people to the point that they're left questioning everything they once knew about themselves.

Surprises come in all shapes and sizes, but they might be remarkably life-altering in some cases. Interestingly enough, something similar happened to a woman whose life changed completely after a shocking discovery.

A LOVELY MOTHER

Sabrina Payne was an EMT and a mother of four children who lived in Houston, Texas. She led a happy and fulfilling life and was grateful for being blessed with a beautiful family. Payne was also extremely close to her paternal grandmother, Sandra Gomez.

Regarding her lovely relationship with Gomez, Payne expressed:

"She is with my kids. She is everything in my life."

A HEARTWARMING CONNECTION

Gomez mentioned that she forged an inseparable bond with her granddaughter from the time she was a little girl. But what the sweet grandmother-granddaughter duo didn't know was that their bond would soon be put to the test.

Kellem was overjoyed when he learned that he had found not only a new daughter but four adorable grandchildren.

It all began in 2018 when Payne decided to take an at-home DNA test with Gomez. However, what started as mere curiosity turned into something far more concrete.

THE SHOCKING DNA TEST RESULTS

According to the results, Payne's DNA didn't match her grandmother's, corresponding to something shocking — her biological father was not the man who raised her. The Houston-area mother revealed:

"There was never any question about my paternity. When I figured out we weren't biologically-related, it was like somebody just punches you in the stomach."

Following the mind-boggling results, Payne was left with endless questions, but the most pertinent was: Who was her birth father, and how would she find him?

FINDING HER BIRTH FATHER

Still struggling with a myriad of emotions, she turned to a private Facebook support group founded by Catherine St. Clair for people with unexpected DNA results. All the group members were "NPE" or "Not Parent Expected."

After thorough research of her DNA matches on social media, Payne succeeded in finding her biological father, Duane Kellems. The mom-of-four admitted she was extremely nervous and didn't know how to reach out to Kellems. Payne also added:

"I thought how do I tell this man, 'Hey I think you are my biological father.'"

PLUCKING UP THE COURAGE TO REACH OUT

Eventually, the Texas woman mustered up the courage to send a message to her father and discovered that he lived in LaPorte, Indiana. She also learned that Kellem had served in the U.S. military in Germany at the same time as the man who raised her.

The entire episode was filled with indescribable, raw emotions for Kellem and Payne. Kellem described his feelings in these words:

"Shocking. There's not one word you can just put on it because it's such a big ball of emotions."

THE LONGING TO MEET HER FATHER IN PERSON

Payne admitted that her birth father was extremely understanding and accepting from the beginning, which helped her navigate her emotions and handle the newfound information.

When the initial shock subsided, she decided to meet her father in person, hoping to make up for 34 years of separation. Fortunately enough, Kellem reciprocated her sentiments and couldn't wait to meet her.

REUNITED AT LAST

At the same time, the LaPorte resident knew how much connecting with him meant for Payne. He stated:

"I know this is the final piece for her puzzle."

The pair had their first family reunion in late 2018, and the meeting was filled with tears of joy and laughter. Kellem was overjoyed when he learned that he had found not only a new daughter but four adorable grandchildren.

A FAMILY FOR LIFE

Payne flew to Indiana after the emotional reunion and met her grandmother and sister. Shortly afterward, Kellem spent Thanksgiving with his daughter and grandkids. Even though the DNA results changed her life, Payne said she didn't regret taking the test. She also shared:

"Not every outcome is a positive outcome. However, it shouldn't remain a secret. This is you. This is part of your identity."

Payne hoped that people who faced similar situations like her realized they weren't alone. She encouraged them not to give up and keep looking for answers like she did.

We're so glad this long-lost father and daughter duo finally reunited, and we hope they continue to prosper in love.

If you liked reading this story, here's another one that you might like even more. It's about a gay man who discovered he had a daughter after receiving a message from her. You can read the whole story by clicking here.