The woman, who was adopted as a child after her mother died of cancer, reunited with her younger sister, whose existence she never knew existed, 55 years after they were adopted by different families.
Sisters Diane Ward, 58, and Mary McLaughlin, 55, separated just months after Mary’s birth, but now long-lost siblings have finally reunited.
When she was little, Diana was given up for adoption, and due to lack of documents she never knew much about her biological family.
She spent her childhood in Michigan, and unknowingly grew up in a house just a few blocks from her sister Mary and her biological mother, who has since died of breast cancer.
They lived minutes apart for three years until Mary was also adopted.
Throughout their childhood, foster parents told both women that they had no siblings, but they longed to know more about where they came from.
Sisters Diane Ward (left), 58, and Mary McLaughlin (right), 55, separated just months after Mary’s birth, but now long-lost siblings have finally reunited
Diana (pictured as a child) was given up for adoption when she was little, and due to a lack of records she never knew much about her biological family.
She spent her childhood in Michigan, and unknowingly grew up in a house just a few blocks from her sister Mary (pictured as a child) and her biological mother.
They lived minutes apart for three years until Mary was also adopted. Diana is pictured with her foster mother as a child
Diana eventually moved to the UK in 1999, after marrying 59-year-old Colin, and Mary moved to Paragold, Arizona, where she started her own family.
Interested in her roots and whether she may have a family that still lives in the States, Diane decided to buy herself a MyHeritage DNA kit as an early Christmas present in December 2020.
The results of the $ 50 kit came back a few months later, informing Diane that she may have a cousin, to whom she then sent an online message to find out more.
The cousin then dropped the bomb, revealing that Diana had a half-sister she never knew about.
After a lot of research, Diana was able to get in touch with Mary – and they described the first time they talked to each other as “love at first sight”.
Mary currently lives in Arizona, and due to COVID and the long distance the couple has not yet been able to meet in person, but instead they first spoke via Zoom.
Throughout their childhood, foster parents told both women that they had no siblings. Diana (left) and Mary (right) are depicted as children
Concerned about her roots and whether she has a family that still lives in the States, Diane decided to buy herself a MyHeritage DNA kit in December 2020. She is depicted as a child
The results came back a few months later, telling Diane that she has a cousin to whom she then posted online to find out more. Diana (left) and Mary (right) are depicted as teenagers
And, according to Diana, they “just clicked right away” and instantly noticed their similarities.
The cousin then dropped the bomb, revealing that Diana (pictured as a teenager) has a sister she never knew
“It was love at first sight,” Diana told Jam Press. “We just pressed and immediately bounced away from each other.
“I seem to have found a second leg. When I first talked to her on Zoom, it was just an incredible feeling.
“Her husband overheard me there and said we are very similar. He turned to her and said, “Yes, this is your sister all right.” We both have a sarcastic gloomy sense of humor. ”
Now the sisters talk to each other on the phone every day, and plan to see each other in person next month. Diana is stunned by the discovery.
She said, “When I bought the kit, I thought it would be cool to watch, ‘What if I was a quarter German or had Irish blood in me?’
After a lot of research, Diana was able to get in touch with Mary (pictured) – and they described the first time they talked to each other as “love at first sight”
Because of COVID the couple have not yet been able to meet in person, but instead they first talked via Zoom, and Diana (left) said she and Mary (right) “just clicked right away”
Diana said she and Mary (pictured as teenagers) “both have a sarcastic gloomy sense of humor,” and she called the “incredible feeling” of meeting her sister
Next month, Diana will embark on a 5,000-mile journey to Mary’s beach house in Arizona for a long-awaited reunion, and both sisters are already staying over the moon. Maria in the photo with her family
“I didn’t tell anyone about the kit. It was just something that interested me and I didn’t find it great.
“The thing is, I didn’t even know it [Mary’s] existence. My mom gave birth to me at 18 and I was sent to a foster family.
“I only had her name, which was quite common, so it was very difficult to go from there. But throughout my life, I’ve always tried to find out more. “
Next month, Diana will make a 5,000-mile trip to Mary Beach House in Arizona for a long-awaited reunion, and both sisters are already staying over the moon.
“I am very grateful to have bought the kit. Without it I wouldn’t know! I am very excited to see Mary next month, ”she added.
“We’ll just go to the beach, sunbathe and fix the world.”
