When this man took a DNA test, he discovered a 50-year secret
By Shari Okeke
When David Jantzik's wife, Joanne Padvaiskas, suggested they both do an AncestryDNA test, David, who was adopted, thought it would be fun to learn about his heritage.
He had no idea of the shock that awaited him.
David had always considered himself to be German and French, like his adoptive parents. When the results came in, he was intrigued to find out he is 70 percent British and 30 percent Irish.
But the real shock came moments later, when David noticed a tiny thumbnail photo on the screen. It was a picture of a woman who shared some of his DNA, a close relative.
David's (adoptive) mother had passed away a few years earlier. After her death, his father, Luke, had given David his blessing to look for his birth family. But David had never tried.
His wife urged him to click, but David needed a moment.
"Part of me was curious. The other part of me was [thinking], 'What if I find someone who doesn't want to be found?'," he recalls.
But after a few minutes, David did decide to send a message.
She had taken the AncestryDNA test months earlier, hoping she might one day find the son she had given up for adoption. But nothing could prepare her for that moment.
"It was just like somebody hit me on the head. My heart just jumped," Catherine said.
Within minutes, the two were exchanging emails.
Then came another surprise for David. He had a brother, Bob.
"I knew right out of the gate I had to take him to them and get them together to see what this connection was and to see how strong it could be," Joanne said.
Nerves were frayed as David and Joanne made their way through the Halifax airport and down the escalator to where Catherine and Bob were waiting.
It was surreal, especially for Catherine.
She explained she had given birth to Bob when she was 15, and then David at 17.
"I thought, 'How can I bring somebody into this mess?'" Catherine said. "I just thought that [David] deserved an awful lot better."
Several months after the adoption, Catherine changed her mind, but was told it was too late.
Now, 50 years later, David has some answers. "I told her, 'I was mad at you growing up, but I'm not mad at you anymore.'"
"I feel like I became complete. I had no more questions. I had no more worry," he said.
To hear David's full story, listen to the documentary "David's DNA" by clicking on the "Listen" link above.
Shari Okeke shares stories about the people she meets in and around Montreal on the morning show, Daybreak, on CBC Radio. Born and raised in Montreal, Shari started her career as a reporter at The London Free Press before joining CBC Television in Toronto. She subsequently moved back to Montreal, and since then her work has aired nationally and locally on CBC radio and TV.
Shari loves baking with her two daughters but refuses to share her famous brownie recipe! She also loves spending time in Prince Edward County, a very special place for her for more than three decades, full of family memories.
You can follow her on Twitter @ShariOkeke