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Narrator: THREE STORIES OF SECRETS AND DECEPTION
CHANGE THESE FAMILIES FOREVER.
"I HAVE REALLY, REALLY BAD NEWS."
Narrator: A FAMILY DESPERATE FOR A CHILD
MAKES THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE...
HE JUST BLURTED OUT...
WHAT?
IT'S SICKENING.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
Narrator: ...A NEW JOB CHANGES A MAN'S LIFE FOREVER....
Randy: I JUST STARTED GOING NUTS.
YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I JUST UNCOVERED.
IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY.
Narrator: ...AND A LITTLE GIRL WITH A PERFECT LIFE
TURNS OUT TO HAVE A SHOCKING PAST.
Michele: IT WAS ALMOST LIKE OUT OF A MOVIE.
I COULDN'T, LIKE, HOLD IT DOWN ANY LONGER.
WHAT IS WRONG?
JUST -- THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Tracy: SEAN AND CAROLYN DESPERATELY WANTED ANOTHER CHILD,
BUT CAROLYN HAD A LOT OF MISCARRIAGES.
Carolyn: WE THOUGHT WE'D FOUND THE MAGIC ANSWER,
AND, WHAM, WE GOT BLINDSIDED.
Sean: THERE WERE SOME PROBLEMS.
THERE WAS RISKS THAT DEVELOPED EARLY ON.
THE NEWS WAS SO SHOCKING.
I JUST KNEW HOW DEVASTATING THIS WAS GONNA BE.
Carolyn: I COULD NEVER HAVE GUESSED
WHAT WAS ABOUT TO COME OUT OF HIS MOUTH.
SEAN AND I MET AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY.
I KNEW WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THAT HE WAS PROBABLY
THE PERSON I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH.
SEAN AND I PROBABLY STARTED TALKING ABOUT HAVING KIDS
WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF MEETING ONE ANOTHER.
AT THE AGE OF 21,
I KNEW I WAS PROBABLY GONNA HAVE SOME FERTILITY ISSUES.
AND I REMEMBER THE DOCTOR LOOKING AT ME AND SAYING,
"IF YOU WANT TO HAVE KIDS,
YOU MIGHT WANT TO GET ON THAT TRAIN SOONER RATHER THAN LATER."
AS SOON AS WE GOT MARRIED, WE STARTED TRYING RIGHT AWAY.
Narrator: CAROLYN AND SEAN HAVE TWO SONS,
BUT CAROLYN SUFFERS THROUGH DIFFICULT PREGNANCIES.
I DEVELOPED A VERY RARE FORM OF PREECLAMPSIA
CALLED "HELLP SYNDROME."
Tracy: TRYING TO CONCEIVE A THIRD CHILD
WAS VERY HARD FOR CAROLYN AND SEAN.
CAROLYN HAS AN AUTOIMMUNE RESPONSE WHEN SHE GETS PREGNANT,
WHERE HER BODY FIGHTS THE BABY ALMOST
AND TRIES TO GET RID OF IT.
SHE'S FIGHTING IT LIKE IT'S A FOREIGN OBJECT.
Sean: IT WAS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME --
THAT'S WHEN WE EXPERIENCED THE MISCARRIAGES.
Narrator: CAROLYN AND SEAN FINALLY GIVE BIRTH TO A THIRD CHILD...
[ LAUGHS ]
THAT'S SO GOOD!
...A GIRL,
AND DESPITE THE RISKS TO CAROLYN'S HEALTH,
THEY TRY TO HAVE A FOURTH CHILD.
Carolyn: I JUST ALWAYS FELT LIKE
OUR FAMILY WAS MEANT TO BE MORE THAN JUST THREE KIDS.
I THINK, ALWAYS, IN THE BACK OF THEIR HEAD, THEY THOUGHT,
"WELL, MAYBE WE CAN DO THIS AGAIN AND GET ANOTHER BABY."
Carolyn: WAITED A COUPLE MONTHS, TRIED AGAIN, FAILURE,
TRIED AGAIN, FAILURE, TRIED AGAIN, SAME THING.
YOU KNOW, AND I WOULD TELL CAROLYN THAT, "IS IT WORTH IT?"
THERE WAS MOMENTS WITH CAROLYN AND I DURING THAT PROCESS
THAT WERE JUST EXTREMELY STRESSFUL,
CAUSED STRAIN ON THE MARRIAGE AT TIMES, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
MANY TIMES, WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY ON THE SAME PAGE.
Carolyn: SO, THAT'S WHEN I SAID,
"WELL, HEY, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT IN VITRO?
"WHAT ABOUT IN VITRO FERTILIZATION?
"NOTHING ELSE IS WORKING.
IT IS THE ONLY THING WE HAVEN'T TRIED."
Narrator: IN VITRO FERTILIZATION, OR IVF,
IS THE MEDICAL PROCESS BY WHICH A WOMAN'S EGG IS FERTILIZED
OUTSIDE A WOMAN'S BODY
AND THEN IMPLANTED IN THE WOMB.
Carolyn: WE FOUND A DOCTOR,
AND, SO, WE MET WITH HIM,
AND HE ALMOST, IN A VERY CAVALIER WAY,
KIND OF GUARANTEED US A BABY FROM HIS CLINIC,
WHICH, AT THAT AGE OF 37
AND AFTER EVERYTHING WE'D BEEN THROUGH,
I THOUGHT, "HE SEEMS KIND OF COCKY."
BUT I DON'T CARE. I DON'T CARE.
WE JUST WANTED SOME SUCCESS.
BECAUSE OF MY AGE, COMBINED WITH THE PREECLAMPSIA,
IT WAS BECOMING A LITTLE BIT RISKY
TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PREGNANCIES.
Sean: SHE HAD A CONDITION THAT WAS LIFE-THREATENING --
LIFE-THREATENING FOR HER AND LIFE-THREATENING FOR THE BABY.
IN VITRO WAS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT FOR THEM,
A LAST HOPE.
THE RISKS OF IN VITRO, FROM WHAT CAROLYN HAS TOLD ME,
ARE THAT YOU COULD HAVE MULTIPLE CHILDREN.
WE'RE VERY DEVOUT CATHOLICS,
AND ENTERING IVF WAS A LEAP.
WE KNEW THAT WAS TAKING ON THE POTENTIAL
OF A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL CHILDREN.
SEAN AND I MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN SELECTIVE REDUCTION.
WE DON'T BELIEVE IN ABORTION.
TO US, AN EMBRYO IS A POTENTIAL HUMAN LIFE,
SO WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ETHICS OF THIS
BECAUSE WE HAD MADE A COMMITMENT TO ONE ANOTHER
THAT EVERY EMBRYO WE WOULD CREATE,
WE WOULD GIVE A CHANCE AT LIFE.
WE CHOSE TO HAVE THREE EMBRYOS TRANSFERRED.
ODDS ARE THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.
I REMEMBER OUR PHYSICIAN WALKED OUT OF THE PROCEDURE ROOM
AND KIND OF TAPPED ME ON THE KNEE AND SAID,
"REMEMBER, I DON'T DO SELECTIVE REDUCTIONS,
"MEANING IF ALL THREE OF THESE TAKE,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TRIPLETS."
AND I REMEMBER SAYING,
"REMEMBER, WE DON'T BELIEVE IN IT, EITHER."
WE DIDN'T REALLY TELL PEOPLE WE WERE HEADED INTO A TRANSFER.
WE DIDN'T TELL ANYONE.
Narrator: AFTER THE IMPLANTATION, CAROLYN RETURNS HOME.
I FELT FINE.
I MEAN, RIGHT AFTER THE TRANSFER,
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON BED REST FOR A COUPLE DAYS.
AND THEN WITHIN THREE OR FOUR DAYS,
I STARTED FEELING, "THIS WORKED. I'M PREGNANT.
I CAN TELL I'M PREGNANT."
I'M LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH. IT WORKED. IT WORKED!"
Narrator: CAROLYN CALLS THE LOCAL LAB TO SCHEDULE A BLOOD TEST,
BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
SHE BECOMES SICK AND FEVERISH WITH FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS.
ALL I HAD TO DO WAS GO TO A LOCAL LAB TO HAVE THIS BLOOD DRAW.
I REMEMBER ARRIVING AT THE LAB,
AND THE PHONE RANG WHILE I WAS IN THERE,
AND SHE SAYS, "THAT WAS YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE CALLING
TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HERE TAKING YOUR BLOOD TEST."
I REMEMBER THINKING...
"WOW. THEY REALLY CARE THAT I'M PREGNANT."
SO, I CAME HOME, AND I KIND OF FELL BACK INTO BED,
AND I REMEMBER PUTTING THE HOUSE PHONE
AND MY CELLPHONE ON MY PILLOW AND FALLING ASLEEP
AND WAKING UP AT LIKE 1:00 AND THINKING,
"[GASPS] NOBODY CALLED. WHY HAVEN'T THEY CALLED ME YET?"
AND THEN I KIND OF DRIFTED OFF AGAIN.
2:00 -- SAME THING.
3:00 -- I'M THINKING, "DID THEY FORGET?"
I'M LIKE, "MAYBE I'M WRONG. MAYBE I'M NOT PREGNANT."
AND THEN 3:00 PASSES, 3:30 PASSES,
AND I'M THINKING, "SHOULD I CALL THEM?
MAYBE THEY FORGOT ME."
UM, AND AT 4:00, SEAN BURSTS THROUGH THE DOOR.
HE WAS AS WHITE AS A SHEET,
AND HE LOOKED TERRIFIED
AND HAD SOME VERY, VERY DISTURBING NEWS.
Narrator: CAROLYN AND SEAN'S ATTEMPT
TO CONCEIVE A FOURTH CHILD THROUGH IN VITRO FERTILIZATION
IS IMPACTED BY UNEXPECTED NEWS FROM SEAN.
WHAT?
HE JUST BLURTED OUT...
"I HAVE REALLY, REALLY BAD NEWS."
FIRST THING I THOUGHT OF WAS MY KIDS. LIKE, "WHERE ARE MY KIDS?"
AND SHE KIND OF SAT UP IN THE BED,
AND I SAID THAT THE DOCTOR JUST CALLED ME
AND THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.
Carolyn: HE JUST STARTED TELLING ME,
"THE DOCTOR WANTS YOU TO TERMINATE."
HERE IS THIS PHYSICIAN THAT WE HAD CHOSEN
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN SELECTIVE REDUCTION,
AND HE'S TELLING US TO TERMINATE?
AND THAT WAS JUST ANOTHER INDICATION
AS TO HOW DIRE THE SITUATION WAS
BECAUSE THIS WAS A PERSON THAT WAS WILLING
TO LET GO OF THEIR OWN PERSONAL ETHICS...
...AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A BIG RED FLAG.
Narrator: FOLLOWING THEIR DOCTOR'S DEVASTATING REQUEST,
FAMILY AND FRIENDS SEE A CHANGE IN CAROLYN'S BEHAVIOR.
I NOTICED THAT CAROLYN
WASN'T AS OUTGOING AS SHE NORMALLY WAS.
HER PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH ME WERE A LITTLE LIMITED.
SEAN AND I ARE JUST GONNA STAY IN TONIGHT.
AND SHE WAS CANCELING ON OUR PLAYDATES,
AND I DID NOTICE SHE DID SEEM A LITTLE OUT OF IT.
I TOTALLY FORGOT.
Narrator: CAROLYN AND SEAN BEGIN CANCELING
ALL OF THEIR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS.
THEY WERE STAYING HOME A LITTLE BIT MORE,
NOT ATTENDING ALL THE PARTIES THEY WERE INVITED TO.
THIS WAS STRANGE BECAUSE THEY'RE NORMALLY SO ACTIVE
IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUTGOING.
Narrator: CAROLYN'S FAMILY ALSO BECOMES CONCERNED.
Drew: I THINK I WAS IN MY MOM'S ROOM WATCHING TV,
AND I REMEMBER FINDING A HEART MONITOR ON THE --
I THINK IT WAS ON HER FLOOR IN HER ROOM,
SO I KIND OF HAD A FEELING THAT SHE WAS SICK.
"WAS SHE SICK? WHY WOULD IT BE THERE?"
Tracy: "WAS SHE ILL? WAS SHE DEPRESSED?"
SHE WAS ACTING SO STRANGE, AND I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHY.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAROLYN WAS GOING THROUGH,
AND IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART
THAT WE COULDN'T BE THERE TO HELP HER.
I REMEMBER IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY AFTERNOON IN MAY.
I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM SEAN.
HE AND CAROLYN HAD SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO TELL ALL OF US.
I JUST HAD THE FEELING LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG.
I WAS SCARED.
THAT AFTERNOON, I PACED AROUND A LOT.
"WHAT WERE THEY GOING TO TELL US? WHAT COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE?"
Narrator: WHEN TRACY ARRIVES AT THE CHURCH,
SHE IS GREETED BY CAROLYN AND SEAN'S CLOSEST FRIENDS.
AS I WALKED INTO THE ROOM,
SEAN AND CAROLYN WERE STANDING IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.
THEY HAD AN AWFUL, AWFUL LOOK ON THEIR FACE.
IT WAS ALMOST AS IF TIME WAS STANDING STILL AT THAT POINT.
Tracy: A LOT OF US LOOKED AT EACH OTHER,
LIKE, "WHAT IS GOING ON?"
WHO COULD EVEN IMAGINE WHAT THEY WERE ABOUT TO TELL US?
SEAN KIND OF BURST INTO THE HOUSE,
AND HE'S NEVER, EVER HOME AT 4:00.
AND HE FLUNG THE BEDROOM DOOR OPEN, AND HE JUST BLURTED OUT --
HE SAID, "WELL, YOUR FERTILITY DOCTOR MADE A MISTAKE,
"AND THEY TRANSFERRED SOMEBODY ELSE'S EMBRYOS.
YOU'RE PREGNANT WITH SOMEBODY ELSE'S BABY."
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
AND I WAS EVEN MORE FLOORED
BECAUSE A MISTAKE ON THIS LEVEL IS BAD.
IN TERMS OF STATISTICAL PROBABILITIES,
THIS IS OFF THE CHART.
IT'S EVERY PARENT'S WORST NIGHTMARE.
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS COULD I HAVE EXPECTED
MY DOCTOR TO MAKE SUCH A HUGE MISTAKE.
Sean: OUR LAST NAME
AND THE OTHER COUPLE'S LAST NAME WAS THE SAME,
AND, SO, THE CLINICIAN WENT THROUGH
AND IDENTIFIED WHAT CANISTERS --
BASED ON THE LAST NAME "SAVAGE," AND WENT AND PULLED THOSE.
AND ALL IT WOULD HAVE TOOK WAS SOMEBODY TO REALLY --
REALLY LOOK, REALLY DO A CROSSCHECK,
AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
THAT THESE WERE NOT OURS.
WHEN I THINK BACK AT THAT, IT'S SICKENING.
Carolyn: I WAS RESENTFUL
THAT I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT IN THE FIRST PLACE,
SO IT WAS DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, HAVING TO CARRY THIS
BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO.
NOBODY SHOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS.
I JUST SPENT A LOT OF TIME WONDERING, WHY?
I MEAN, WHY WOULD ANYONE HAVE TO EXPERIENCE THIS?
Narrator: CAROLYN AND SEAN DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THEY DON'T CONSIDER ABORTION AN OPTION.
IT GOES AGAINST THEIR PERSONAL AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
Carolyn: THAT MOMENT, I KNEW WE WOULD MAKE
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS OF OUR LIFETIME.
SO, WE APPRECIATE YOU ALL BEING HERE.
SEAN PROCEEDED TO TELL US WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED TO THEM.
Carolyn: HE STARTED TO EXPLAIN THERE HAD BEEN A MISTAKE
AND THAT I WAS PREGNANT BUT WITH SOMEBODY ELSE'S BABY.
Tracy: EVERYONE WAS IN SHOCK.
HE TOLD US THAT THEY'VE MADE A DECISION.
I HAD A PRETTY HIGH DEGREE OF ANXIETY
JUST BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO.
AND I TOLD PEOPLE THAT WE'RE GONNA BE HANDING THIS BABY
OVER TO THE OTHER COUPLE AT BIRTH.
Tracy: THERE WERE TEARS. PEOPLE WERE CRYING.
I KNOW I STARTED TO CRY.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT NERVE-RACKING
AND A LITTLE BIT OF A RELIEF THAT DAY
BECAUSE WE WERE JUST KIND OF GETTING IT ALL OUT IN THE OPEN.
THEY WERE GOING TO CARRY THIS BABY
EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T THEIR CHILD,
AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAND IT OVER
TO ITS BIOLOGICAL PARENTS --
DELIVER THE ULTIMATE GIFT.
Narrator: SEAN AND CAROLYN
DEAL WITH THE OTHER FAMILY THROUGH THEIR ATTORNEY
AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS
TO GIVE THEM CUSTODY OF THE INFANT AT BIRTH.
Sean: TRYING TO JUST WRAP OUR BRAIN
AROUND THE CONCEPT OF HANDING A CHILD OVER.
IT'S SO OVERWHELMING.
AT TIMES, YOU'RE LIKE, "THIS IS JUST TOO DAMN MUCH."
MR. AND MRS. SAVAGE, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
Carolyn: I WAS NERVOUS.
I WAS NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT THAT MOMENT
IN THE DELIVERY ROOM WAS GONNA BE LIKE.
I KNEW I WAS GOING TO GIVE BIRTH TO A BABY
THAT WAS GOING TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL WITH SOMEBODY ELSE.
I THINK THAT WAS OUR BIGGEST CONCERN --
WAS, WERE WE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS?
Narrator: MONTHS LATER,
CAROLYN AND SEAN FIND THEMSELVES IN THE DELIVERY ROOM,
FACING THAT PIVOTAL MOMENT.
THE DAY THAT I HAD THE BABY WAS --
IT WAS, REALLY, A BEAUTIFUL DAY,
AND THEY LIFTED HIM OVER TO ME, AND HE WAS PERFECT.
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON LOSING THE BABY IN THE DELIVERY ROOM,
I WAS FOCUSING ON THE GIFT THAT WE WERE GIVING HIS FAMILY.
AND TODAY, THE SAVAGES HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP
WITH THEIR BIRTH SON, LOGAN.
WE SEE LOGAN ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
AND SOMEDAY, WHEN HE LEARNS THE CIRCUMSTANCES
AROUND HIS DELIVERY INTO THIS WORLD,
HE ISN'T MYSTIFIED BY SOME MYSTERY WOMAN.
YOU KNOW, HE'LL GO, "OH, CAROLYN -- OH, OKAY,"
AND JUST MOVE ON.
I WAS NOT ABLE TO CARRY ANY MORE KIDS AFTER LOGAN WAS BORN,
AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE KNEW
WAS PART OF THE CONSEQUENCES
OF OUR DECISION TO CONTINUE WITH HIS PREGNANCY.
Man: WHO'S THE NEXT BIRTHDAY IN THE FAMILY?
IN AUGUST OF 2011,
WE WELCOMED OUR TWIN DAUGHTERS INTO THIS WORLD
WITH THE GREAT HELP OF A VERY GENEROUS WOMAN.
WE WOULD HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED SURROGACY
IF THE IN VITRO MISTAKE HADN'T BEEN MADE.
THAT WAS JUST THE COOLEST, HAPPIEST,
ICING-ON-THE-CAKE ENDING TO THIS.
OUR FAMILY IS DEFINITELY COMPLETE.
WE ARE OFFICIALLY DONE,
AND I'M VERY HAPPY.
THAT WAS FUNNY.
Narrator: THE GIRL WHO HAS IT ALL IS HIDING THE UNTHINKABLE.
WHAT IS WRONG?
Jennifer: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS
THIS ENTIRE SECRET LIFE THAT MICHELE LIVED.
I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
I REMEMBER THINKING, YOU KNOW, THAT MICHELE WAS PERFECT.
FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT SEEMED THAT MICHELE WOULD HAVE IT ALL.
Jessica: BUT NO ONE KNEW THE HORRIBLE TRUTH.
Jennifer: MICHELE HAD A LOT GOING ON FOR HER.
Jessica: MICHELE SEEMED VERY PUT TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.
Narrator: MICHELE GROWS UP IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
WITH HER MOTHER, SUSAN, AND STEPFATHER, JIM,
IN A FAIRY-TALE LIFE OF WEALTH AND PRIVILEGE.
BEING PART OF THE COUNTRY-CLUB SOCIETY --
THERE WAS A LOT OF GOING OUT TO DINNER AND NEW DRESSES,
AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE OUT OF A MOVIE.
Narrator: FRIENDS ARE ESPECIALLY STRUCK
BY MICHELE'S GLAMOROUS AND SOPHISTICATED MOTHER, SUSAN.
I REMEMBER PEOPLE SAYING TO MICHELE,
"OH, MY GOSH. IS THIS FOR REAL? LIKE, THIS IS YOUR MOTHER?"
MY MOTHER LOOKED LIKE MARILYN MONROE.
SHE HAD THE BLOND HAIR. SHE HAD THESE BIG, RED LIPS.
SHE WAS VERY GLAMOROUS AND VERY BEAUTIFUL.
Jennifer: SHE HAD THIS WAY ABOUT HER,
AND SHE KNEW HOW TO WORK A ROOM AND MAKE PEOPLE FEEL GOOD.
SHE WAS VERY CHARISMATIC. SHE WAS VERY CHARMING.
ONTO THE BED. WE'RE GOING TO PRAY.
Narrator: BUT NO ONE IDOLIZES SUSAN MORE THAN MICHELE.
IT WASN'T A TYPICAL -- LIKE, "UGH, MOM," YOU KNOW?
IT WAS MORE -- SHE LIKED BEING WITH SUSAN.
Narrator: FROM AN EARLY AGE, SUSAN BEGINS INSTRUCTING MICHELE
IN MANNERS, POISE, AND PERFECTION.
Susan: DO FIRST POSITION.
Michele: MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME BALLET,
AND MY FATHER WOULD BE AT WORK,
AND SHE PUT ON THE CLASSICAL MUSIC,
AND I'D GET IN MY LITTLE LEOTARD,
AND SHE WOULD TEACH ME ALL OF THE POSITIONS,
AND I LOVED IT BECAUSE I FELT REALLY CLOSE TO HER.
NOW, THIS GOES DOWN. THIS...
I REALIZED FROM A YOUNG AGE THAT SHE WAS VERY INTO PERFECTION.
SHE WAS CONCERNED WITH THE WAY WE SPOKE,
THE WAY WE WALKED, AND THE WAY WE LOOKED.
YOU KNOW, SHE WOULD TELL MICHELE TO PUT SOME MAKEUP ON, AS WELL,
WHICH WAS ODD FOR ME
BECAUSE MY MOM TOLD ME I WASN'T ALLOWED TO WEAR MAKEUP,
WHERE HER MOM WAS TELLING HER TO PUT MAKEUP ON.
I THINK I STARTED WEARING MAKEUP WHEN I WAS 8 YEARS OLD
AND STARTING THAT WHOLE PROCESS REALLY EARLY.
SHE WAS VERY INTO PERFECTION --
LIKE PUTTING HAIR DYE IN MY HAIR WHEN I'M 10.
Jessica: AS A CHILD, I REMEMBER
MICHELE TRYING TO PLEASE HER MOTHER
AND MAKE SURE THAT SHE DIDN'T UPSET HER MOM.
♪ LA, LA-LA, LA-LA, LA ♪
YOU HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WERE QUIET.
WHEE!
SHH!
MICHELE WOULD SHUSH ME,
OR WE'D NEED TO CLEAN UP OR STOP WHAT WE'RE DOING.
I WAS A GREAT KID,
BUT SHE MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WASN'T.
I WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO BE SURE THAT I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.
Narrator: BY THE TIME MICHELE IS 10,
SHE STARTS IGNORING HER FRIENDS WHEN THEY VISIT,
DISAPPEARING FOR HOURS AT A TIME.
SHE WAS KIND OF M.I.A. A LOT OF THE TIME WHEN I WOULD STAY OVER.
Jennifer: IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR HER MOTHER TO COME DOWN AND SAY,
"MICHELE, I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU,"
AND THEY'D GO OFF -- MAYBE AN HOUR, MAYBE LESS.
Jessica: I JUST THOUGHT THAT,
"OH, SHE JUST NEEDS TO TALK TO HER IN PRIVATE MAYBE."
AND I'D ASK MICHELE WHAT SHE WAS DOING,
AND MICHELE SAID SHE WAS PRAYING.
THANK YOU FOR...
THERE WOULD BE LONG PERIODS OF TIME,
IT SEEMED, THAT SHE'D BE PRAYING,
AND IT SEEMED ODD TO ME THAT IT TOOK UP A BIG CHUNK OF HER LIFE.
THAT WAS STRANGE THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO PRAY A LOT IN SECRET,
OUTSIDE OF ME OR JESSICA BEING THERE.
IT STARTED TO GIVE ME A GLIMPSE
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON.
Narrator: BUT BY JUNIOR HIGH,
FRIENDS NOTICE MICHELE'S PICTURE-PERFECT BEHAVIOR
STARTS TO CHANGE.
I THINK MICHELE PLAYED A ROLE.
IT WAS, LIKE, ONE WAY,
AND THEN IT WENT COMPLETELY OPPOSITE.
IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, A SUBTLE DIFFERENCE.
WE'RE TALKING NIGHT AND DAY.
SHE WAS DIFFERENT WITH HER MOTHER
THAN SHE WAS WITH HER FRIENDS.
Michele: EIGHTH AND NINTH GRADE, I WAS KIND OF EXPERIMENTING
WITH ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES AND SEX,
AND HOW CAN WE SNEAK OUT OF OUR ROOMS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
AND NOT GET CAUGHT?
Jessica: MICHELE DIDN'T WANT HER MOM
TO KNOW ABOUT HER HAVING A BOYFRIEND,
BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT SHE WOULDN'T APPROVE.
I THINK THAT IT'S NORMAL
FOR A MOTHER TO NOT WANT YOUR DAUGHTER TO BE PHYSICAL,
BUT IT WAS A LITTLE EXTREME.
IT WAS MORE NOT WANTING HER
TO EVEN HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYONE.
Jennifer: THE MOST SHOCKING THING
WAS JUST SEEING MICHELE GO THROUGH HER TRANSFORMATION.
I WENT OVER TO HER HOUSE.
SHE WAS VERY PROUD OF HER LONG, BLOND HAIR,
AND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, HER HAIR WAS CHOPPED OFF.
I REMEMBER ASKING HER WHY SHE CUT HER HAIR,
AND SHE REALLY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
I THINK SHE KIND OF BRUSHED IT OFF.
AND THAT WAS -- I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME
I REALLY REALIZED
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING OFF AND THAT SHE WAS UNHAPPY.
YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE IT.
DON'T YOU LOVE IT?
Narrator: SUDDENLY, MICHELE CUTS TIES WITH HER FRIENDS...
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
...AND DOESN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR AN ENTIRE SUMMER.
Jessica: I THINK I JUST WAITED FOR HER.
I KEPT CALLING, AND NO ONE WOULD PICK UP,
OR SUSAN WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, "SHE CAN'T TALK."
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
I BELIEVE MICHELE BECAME A LITTLE BIT MORE CLOSED OFF.
I'M JUST REALLY WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
Narrator: IN COLLEGE, MICHELE CHANGES HER LOOK,
NO LONGER DYEING HER HAIR LIKE HER MOTHER.
AND WHEN GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE HOME, SHE JUMPS AT IT.
MICHELE FELT LIKE SHE NEEDED TO GET AWAY.
SHE NEEDED TO LEAVE, AND SHE NEEDED A CHANGE.
OUR FRIEND KAT AND HER DECIDED
THEY WANTED TO GO TO LONDON AND DO A SEMESTER ABROAD.
IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE,
AND LONDON WAS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
Narrator: MICHELE STAYS IN LONDON FOR OVER A YEAR.
DURING THIS TIME, SHE BARELY COMMUNICATES WITH HER FRIENDS.
AND YOU COULD TELL THERE WERE THINGS BOTHERING HER.
SEEMED LIKE SHE WAS RUNNING AWAY.
Narrator: THEN, ONE DAY, JENNIFER HEARS FROM MICHELE,
WHO HAS RETURNED HOME AFTER RECEIVING A CALL
THAT HER MOTHER'S HEALTH IS DETERIORATING.
HEY, JEN.
I HAD NOT TALKED TO MICHELE FOR A WHILE.
AND ONE DAY, I GET A CALL FROM HER,
AND SHE SAYS, "I'M BACK IN THE STATES."
AND SHE SAYS, "I REALLY NEED TO MEET WITH YOU,"
AND SHE SOUNDED REALLY DISTRESSED AND UPSET.
AND SO SHE ASKED IF I'D MEET HER AT THE COUNTRY CLUB,
BECAUSE WE'D ALWAYS GONE THERE WITH SUSAN.
Narrator: BUT WHEN MICHELE ARRIVES,
JENNIFER IS STARTLED BY HER BEHAVIOR.
Jennifer: MICHELE WAS BAWLING. SHE WAS GASPING FOR AIR.
I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, HER HANDS WERE SHAKING,
AND I'D NEVER SEEN HER LIKE THAT.
I SAID, "YOU NEED TO TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON."
Narrator: MICHELE APPEARS TO HAVE THE PERFECT LIFE,
BUT FRIENDS BEGIN TO NOTICE
SHE ACTS STRANGELY AROUND HER MOTHER.
WHEN MICHELE ABRUPTLY RETURNS HOME FROM COLLEGE ABROAD,
HER FRIEND JENNIFER IS IMMEDIATELY CONCERNED.
BYE.
SHE WAS TENSE. SHE WAS HEAVY-HEADED.
I COULD TELL SHE WAS THINKING, AND SHE SEEMED SAD.
I JUST START GOING
INTO THIS, LIKE, COMPLETE TREMOR,
SHAKING, TERRIFIED.
AT THAT POINT, I WAS VERY WORRIED FOR MICHELE.
HER HANDS WERE SHAKING.
I GO, "YOU GOT TO TALK TO ME. WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"
Michele: I GO, "I HAVE ALL THESE THINGS
THAT I NEED TO TELL YOU AND I JUST NEED TO SAY."
IT WAS LIKE A TIDAL WAVE.
I COULDN'T, LIKE, HOLD IT DOWN ANY LONGER.
IT JUST -- THERE WAS NO OTHER CHOICE.
MY FACE FALLS INTO MY HANDS,
AND I'M JUST LIKE "[ GASPS ] OH, MY GOSH."
AND I START TELLING HER...
...MY MOTHER IS INSANE.
AS A CHILD, MY LIFE WAS PICTURE-PERFECT.
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS EXISTED SOMETHING MUCH DARKER.
WHEN I HEARD THIS, I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
I KNEW HER MOM WAS DIFFERENT,
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT.
AND SHE JUST...
LET LOOSE OF ALL THESE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON.
Michele: MY MOTHER DIDN'T SHOW ME VERY MUCH LOVE
OR KINDNESS OR ATTENTION.
SHE WAS VERY INTO PERFECTION.
AND SO I THOUGHT BY BEING GOOD AND BEING HELPFUL
AND DOING EVERYTHING THAT SHE WANTED ME TO DO
AND LOOKING THE WAY THAT SHE WANTED ME TO LOOK
THAT I WOULD GET CLOSER TO HER.
AND QUIET.
OVER TIME, THIS QUEST FOR PERFECTION BECAME WARPED.
WHEN MY MOTHER FOUND GOD,
I WAS HER LITTLE SPIRITUAL HANDMAIDEN.
SHE WOULD SAY, "I NEED YOU."
AND THAT WAS MY CUE TO GO WITH HER.
BUT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GONNA BE IN STORE.
Narrator: SUSAN'S INTEREST IN RELIGION
QUICKLY BECOMES AN OBSESSION.
WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD,
SHE TOLD ME TO BRING MY COMMUNION DRESS,
AND SHE RAN A BATH FOR ME IN THIS LITTLE BATHROOM.
AND SHE TOLD ME THAT, "WE'RE GONNA REBAPTIZE YOU."
THEN, SHE --
BASICALLY, SHE PUSHED MY HEAD DOWN UNDERNEATH THE WATER,
AND THEN SHE STARTED PRAYING IN TONGUES.
AND SHE KEPT ME DOWN
AND SHE KEPT ME DOWN AND SHE KEPT ME DOWN,
AND THEN I WAS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WRESTLING
AND THEN FEARING THAT SHE'S GONNA DROWN ME.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING I LABELED "CHURCH OF MOTHER,"
BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING REALLY HOLY OR SACRED ABOUT IT.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT HER EGOTISTICAL SPINNING
OF HER STORIES AND HER DELUSIONS.
SHE WOULD SIT ON THE BED, AND SHE WOULD PROPHESY...
IT'S IMPORTANT, MICHELE! YOU NEED...
...AND SAY THAT THE *** MARY WAS SPEAKING THROUGH HER.
AND, EVENTUALLY, SHE BELIEVED THAT SHE WAS THE CHOSEN ONE.
AND I WOULD LISTEN TO THIS, AND I'M JUST GOING, LIKE,
"SHE'S INSANE, SHE'S SICK, SHE'S INSANE, SHE'S SICK."
Narrator: WHEN MICHELE REBELS IN HIGH SCHOOL,
SUSAN FORCES HER TO CUT HER HAIR IN THE NAME OF RELIGION.
Michele: MY MOTHER AND I GO INTO THE SALON,
AND THE HAIRDRESSER SAYS,
"WELL, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TODAY?"
AND MY MOTHER SAYS,
"WELL, WE'RE GONNA CUT IT TO HERE."
ABOUT THERE.
AND I WAS JUST LIKE...
"Oh, my God."
I JUST GULPED.
MY MOTHER AND THE HAIRDRESSER...
SHORTER.
...JUST CHIRPED AWAY
ABOUT SUPERFICIAL HAIR STUFF
WHILE THE WOMAN CUT MY HAIR.
AND I JUST REMEMBER WATCHING THESE, LIKE, LONG, BLOND RIBBONS
JUST FALL TO THE FLOOR.
IT WAS AWFUL.
I MEAN, I JUST HAD THIS, LIKE, BOWL-CUT THING.
SHE JUST SAID TO ME...
"GOD IS SO ANGRY AT YOU.
YOU DIDN'T DESERVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAIR."
ON TOP OF THAT, SHE SAID, "THIS IS YOUR PUNISHMENT.
"YOU WILL CARRY BRICKS FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF JUNE,
"AND YOU ARE CUT OFF FROM ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS,
AND YOU ARE ESPECIALLY CUT OFF FROM THAT DIRTY BOY."
AND SHE SAID, "YOU'RE JUST FILTH."
I REMEMBER CRYING SO HARD.
MY MOTHER HAD CREATED HER OWN FANATICAL CHURCH,
AND I WAS FORCED TO JOIN.
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS THIS ENTIRE SECRET LIFE THAT MICHELE LIVED.
REMEMBER, MICHELE, THIS IS THE CHURCH OF MOTHER.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP THIS SECRET.
I WAS LOYAL TO HER
BECAUSE I FELT LIKE SHE NEEDED ME SO DESPERATELY.
IT'S ONLY BETWEEN US, OKAY? REMEMBER.
AND I WAS SO SAD.
I WAS SO SAD FOR MICHELE,
BECAUSE SHE HAD WHAT SEEMED A PERFECT LIFE,
BUT UNDERNEATH WAS THIS MOTHER
WHO JUST DOMINATED AND CONTROLLED HER,
AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LOVE.
Narrator: SHORTLY AFTER MICHELE RETURNS HOME,
SUSAN IS COMMITTED TO A MENTAL HOSPITAL.
Michele: I FELT RELIEVED.
SHE WAS FINALLY DIAGNOSED,
AND SHE WAS FINALLY GETTING HELP.
CARRYING THAT SECRET FOR 15 YEARS WAS A BURDEN.
IT WAS A BURDEN THAT I CARRIED MASTERFULLY WELL.
MICHELE HAD TO LIVE TWO LIVES.
THAT IS HOW SHE SURVIVED.
IT WAS JUST LIFE AS I KNEW IT.
BY TELLING MY SECRETS, I'M LIBERATED FROM THEM.
NOW...
[ SIGHS ]
...LIFE IS GORGEOUS.
I JUST STOOD THERE, SHAKING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
Narrator: A ROUTINE DAY AT WORK
LEADS TO ONE AMAZING DISCOVERY AFTER ANOTHER.
I HAVE SUCH CRAZINESS INSIDE OF ME.
I'M FREAKING OUT.
Randy: HAD A GREAT CHILDHOOD.
MY PARENTS ALWAYS MADE IT CLEAR TO ME
THAT I WAS ADOPTED AND I WAS A SPECIAL CHILD.
AND NEVER WORRIED ME NOT KNOWING WHERE I CAME FROM.
LITTLE DID I KNOW,
EVERYTHING WAS GONNA CHANGE IN LESS THAN A WEEK.
Narrator: IT'S 2009,
AND RANDY HAS NO IDEA HIS LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE
WHEN HE TAKES A JOB AT A FURNITURE STORE
IN WALDOBORO, MAINE.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED AT DOW,
I'M DOING TRAINING TO DO DELIVERIES,
LOAD THE SHOWROOMS WITH FURNITURE,
ALL KINDS OF STUFF LIKE THAT --
WAREHOUSE WORK, PUTTING STUFF AWAY.
OH, HI, RANDY. NICE TO MEET YOU.
Lisa: SO, YOU'RE GONNA BE ON THE SAME DELIVERY TEAM.
Narrator: LISA ASSIGNS RANDY TO SHADOW ANOTHER DELIVERY DRIVER
FOR HIS FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB.
WELL, USUALLY WHEN YOU START, YOU START AT THE BOTTOM,
SO I PUT RANDY ON THE ROAD WITH GARY,
'CAUSE THEY BOTH WERE RUGGED,
AND I THOUGHT THEY COULD BE A GOOD TEAM TO WORK TOGETHER.
Randy: FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WE WERE FRIENDLY
AND, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT NORMAL THINGS, YOU KNOW?
I STARTED GOING ON A FEW DELIVERIES.
HE WAS DRIVING AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SHOWING ME THE ROPES.
I WAS REAL EXCITED TO GET UP EVERY DAY, GO TO WORK,
AND IT WAS GOING PRETTY WELL.
Narrator: THAT SAME YEAR, RANDY LEARNS
THAT THE ADOPTION LAWS IN MAINE HAVE CHANGED.
IT MADE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE
TO JUST GET YOUR ORIGINAL ADOPTION CERTIFICATE.
YOU HAD TO FILL OUT THIS AND THAT.
AND, FINALLY, AFTER TWO WEEKS,
I GET AN ENVELOPE IN THE MAIL FROM THE STATE OF MAINE.
I TORE INTO IT,
AND THEY GAVE ME SOME DETAILS ON MY MOTHER'S PAST --
JOAN POMROY, WHO WAS DECEASED IN 1996.
THEY GAVE SOME HISTORY ON MY FATHER, WILFRED POMROY.
WHEN I READ THAT, IT WAS, UM...
A FLOOD OF EMOTION.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE END OF THE STORY.
Narrator: IT'S SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd,
AND THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE ONES RANDY WILL NEVER FORGET.
Randy: I WAS ON A REGULAR STANDARD DELIVERY.
THIS LADY -- SHE WAS JUST TALKING TO US ABOUT HER FAMILY,
AND SHE HAS KIDS AND SIBLINGS.
THAT'S ME AND MY SISTER. WE'RE TWINS.
ON OUR WAY OUT, SHE'S LIKE, "SO, WHAT'S YOUR GUYS' DEAL?"
YOU TWO LOOK LIKE BROTHERS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAME OVER ME. I DON'T KNOW WHY.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT CLICKED.
LIKE, FOR WHATEVER REASON, WITH THIS LADY,
THIS CRAZY...
GIDDY EXCITEDNESS WAS IN ME.
I JUST KNEW I WAS GOING OUT THE DOOR,
AND I'M ASKING GARY QUESTIONS.
AS SOON AS WE GET IT OUT THE DOOR,
GET IT UP BY THE TRUCK,
I SAID, "SET IT DOWN HERE FOR A SECOND. SET IT DOWN."
I SAID, "YOU'RE GONNA REALLY THINK I'M A STRANGE PERSON,
BUT WERE YOU ADOPTED?"
YEAH.
I HAVE SUCH CRAZINESS INSIDE OF ME OF,
"I KNOW THE NEXT QUESTION I'M GONNA ASK HIM."
I SAID, "DO YOU KNOW YOUR BIOLOGICAL PARENTS' NAMES?"
'CAUSE IF HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT INFO,
I'M JUST, YOU KNOW, BEATING A DEAD HORSE.
THERE'S NO SENSE TO CONTINUE WITH THIS CRAZY FEELING.
AND I SAID, "YES, IT'S WILFRED AND JOAN POMROY."
Randy: I'M FREAKING OUT.
I'M JUST HANGING ON THE TRUCK, GOING,
"GARY, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I JUST UNCOVERED.
YOU -- YOU HAVE NO IDEA. GARY, I'M YOUR BROTHER."
HE'S THINKING I'M COMPLETELY CRAZY AT THIS POINT.
I SAID, "NO WAY. NO WAY. THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING."
[ CHUCKLES ]
Randy: I'M LIKE, "DO YOU HAVE YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE?
"YOU HAVE TO GO HOME AND GET IT.
YOU HAVE TO GET THIS. I HAVE TO SEE THIS, GARY."
I HAD HIM BRING IN THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
"WILFRED AND JOAN POMROY."
WE'RE BROTHERS. THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
Lisa: HI, RANDY.
Narrator: EXCITED ABOUT HIS DISCOVERY,
RANDY IS EAGER TO SHARE THE NEWS WITH HIS BOSS.
I'VE UNCOVERED SOMETHING PRETTY ASTONISHING.
"GARY AND I ARE BROTHERS."
Lisa: ALL OF US WERE IN SHOCK.
EVERYBODY WAS JUST SO EXCITED FOR THEM.
I MEAN, ISN'T THAT AMAZING -- THERE'S SOMEBODY
THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S YOUR BROTHER?
I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU, RANDY.
AND THE NEXT DAY, I SAID,
"I THINK I'M GONNA CALL CHANNEL 6 NEWS."
TWO GUYS THAT WORK FOR ME FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE BROTHERS.
Randy: THE LOCAL CHANNEL 6 NEWS
OUT OF PORTLAND, MAINE, SHOWED UP.
THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST AMAZING EXPERIENCE.
I'VE NEVER RECEIVED THIS MUCH ATTENTION EVER IN MY LIFE.
AND, GARY, HOW ABOUT FOR YOU?
WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE, FINDING OUT
THAT YOU AND RANDY ARE BROTHERS?
OH, VERY INTERESTING AND INCREDIBLE.
Joanne: I CAUGHT THE TAIL END OF A NEWS BROADCAST.
THESE TWO GUYS WORKING TOGETHER AT DOW FURNITURE
DISCOVERED THAT THEY WERE REAL BROTHERS.
IT REALLY IS A SMALL WORLD.
AND IT GAVE A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THEIR BIRTH NAMES.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
ONCE MY HEART HAD COME OUT OF MY THROAT,
I HEADED TO DOW FURNITURE.
Randy: AS I'M LEAVING WORK,
THERE'S THIS TINY WOMAN HANGING ON TO SOME PAPERS.
AND I'M LIKE, "WHO IS THIS?"
AND AS WE GET CLOSE, I SEE SHE'S QUITE EMOTIONAL.
AND AS WE APPROACH EVEN CLOSER, SHE'S CRYING.
I JUST STOOD THERE, SHAKING.
Randy: AT THIS POINT, IT'S LIKE,
"WHAT'S GONNA BE THROWN AT ME NOW?"
I COULDN'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
Narrator: RANDY DISCOVERS HIS CO-WORKER
IS ACTUALLY HIS BIOLOGICAL BROTHER.
AFTER RANDY'S STORY AIRS ON THE LOCAL NEWS,
HE AND HIS BROTHER, GARY, ARE SUDDENLY APPROACHED
BY A WOMAN THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
Randy: WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT.
LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS EMOTIONAL.
LIKE, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PERSON?"
RANDY SAID, "CAN I HELP YOU?"
I HANDED RANDY MY MOTHER'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE,
MEDICAL RECORDS, AND SOCIAL SECURITY CARD.
JUST THE ANTICIPATION WAS INCREDIBLE.
AND I SAID, "I THINK I'M YOUR SISTER."
SO, HE LOOKED AT THE DOCUMENTS,
HE LOOKED AT GARY, HE LOOKED BACK AT ME.
I SAID, "YOU ARE MY SISTER."
I WAS BLOWN AWAY...
UM, LIKE, YOU KNOW, "HOW CAN THIS BE?"
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ SIGHS ]
[ CHUCKLES ]
IT WAS JUST AMAZING [CHUCKLES] THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY ELSE.
Joanne: IT FELT VERY SURREAL TO ME
TO THINK THAT THOSE COULD BE MY REAL BROTHERS.
I WAS ACTUALLY CRYING SO HARD THAT I COULDN'T SAY MUCH.
I THINK I WAS SO EMOTIONAL FROM NOT KNOWING WHERE THEY WERE
AND FINALLY BEING ABLE
TO PHYSICALLY SEE THEM IN FRONT OF ME.
I GREW UP WITH MY REAL MOTHER.
I WAS GIVEN UP FOR A FOSTER HOME ABOUT THE AGE OF 5.
I KNEW I HAD OTHER SIBLINGS FROM MY FOSTER PARENTS.
I NEVER DID LOOK FOR THEM. I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO START.
I TOTALLY WONDERED WHERE THEY WERE
AND WHAT THEY WERE DOING
AND IF ANYONE WAS EVEN LOOKING FOR ME.
I ABSOLUTELY HOPED THAT ONE OF THEM WAS LOOKING FOR ME
IF THEY EVEN KNEW I EXISTED.
JUST AMAZING. I HAD A SISTER.
SHE JUST MOVED TO WARREN, WHICH IS RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU GO UP MY DRIVEWAY AND CROSS THE STREET,
YOU'RE IN WARREN.
SHE LIVES IN THAT TOWN. GARY'S IN THE SAME TOWN.
THESE PEOPLE ARE RIGHT AROUND ME.
Joanne: RANDY, I KNEW, WAS EXCITED,
BUT GARY, I THINK, WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK AT THIS POINT,
HAVING JUST FOUND OUT THAT HIS CO-WORKER WAS HIS REAL BROTHER
AND NOW TO DISCOVER THAT HE ALSO HAS A SISTER.
IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT. [ CHUCKLES ]
Randy: AS JOANNE IS THERE,
TO INTERRUPT IT, WE GET A PAGE.
Woman: RANDY, THERE'S A MORNING SHOW ON LINE 1.
YEAH, OKAY, THAT'S DEFINITELY
ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THERE JUST MESSING AROUND.
"RANDY, LINE 1. NO JOKE. PICK UP THE PHONE."
HELLO?
HE SAID, "THE 'TODAY' SHOW JUST CALLED,
AND THEY WANT US DOWN THERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."
Randy: I ARRIVE IN NEW YORK WITH JOANNE AND GARY.
THEY HAD US ON THE NEXT MORNING.
Gary: ALL KINDS OF CAMERAS IN YOUR FACE,
PEOPLE TALKING TO YOU,
AND LOOKING OUT AND SEEING THE CROWD OF PEOPLE.
THERE'S SO MUCH EMOTION,
I CAN'T WRAP MY BRAIN AROUND WHAT'S GOING ON.
[ SIGHS ] JUST BLOWN AWAY.
AND I HAD NO CLUE THAT I HAD A BROTHER.
Narrator: BUT NOTHING COULD PREPARE RANDY
FOR WHAT HE HEARS NEXT.
IT WAS AT THE END OF THE SHOW. JUST ABOUT READY TO LEAVE.
AND I BLURTED OUT MY SISTER'S NAME -- CLAIRE MARIE --
HOPING SHE WOULD BE LISTENING.
"CLAIRE MARIE" WAS WHAT SHE WAS BORN AS.
SHE WOULD BE PROBABLY 39 OR 40.
Randy: JOANNE MENTIONED WE HAVE A SISTER OUT THERE --
THIS FOREIGN NAME.
"AND IF SHE'S WATCHING, WE'RE LOOKING FOR HER."
I THINK I WAS JUST KIND OF IN SHOCK.
I JUST STARTED GOING NUTS.
OVERCOME WITH EMOTION. "THERE'S ANOTHER SISTER?"
Joanne: I WAS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL
WHEN MY FOSTER PARENTS TOLD ME
THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH MY SISTER.
I DID NOT TALK TO CLAIRE MARIE
ABOUT HER BEING MY BIOLOGICAL SISTER.
I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION
THAT SHE DID NOT KNOW THAT SHE WAS ADOPTED.
TO KNOW THAT SHE WAS MY SISTER AND NOT TELL HER
WAS JUST THIS HUGE SECRET INSIDE.
THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR,
I MOVED AWAY AND JUST LOST CONTACT WITH HER.
I TOLD THE BOYS WE WERE STILL MISSING A SISTER.
HAVING JUST DISCOVERED ME, THEY WERE COMPLETELY SHOCKED.
Narrator: RANDY IS STILL REELING
FROM THE NEWS THAT HE HAS ANOTHER SIBLING,
WHEN HIS THOUGHTS ARE INTERRUPTED.
AFTER THE SHOW, ONE OF THE PRODUCERS COMES, SAYS,
"DON'T GO ANYWHERE. JUST STAY HERE FOR A SECOND."
SO, THEN THEY COME BACK
AND SAY, "CAN YOU STAY ONE MORE DAY?"
WE'RE LIKE, "WHAT IN THE WORLD?
OKAY. YEAH, I GUESS WE CAN."
SO, THEY HAD A SECOND TAPING.
"WE'VE INVITED YOU BACK,
AND WE HAVE A VERY BIG SURPRISE FOR YOU."
YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING, "WHAT DO YOU GOT UP YOUR SLEEVES?"
I WAS JUST, LIKE, WAITING.
THEY SAID, "WE HAVE YOUR SISTER HERE."
[ SNIFFLING ]
Joanne: WHEN SHE CAME OUT, OF COURSE,
I GAVE HER A BIG HUGE SISTER HUG.
THE EMOTIONS AT THAT POINT,
HAVING JUST MET MY BROTHERS THREE DAYS PRIOR
AND NOW MEETING MY SISTER,
WAS COMPLETELY SURREAL.
Kathleen: I HUGGED JOANNE, I HUGGED RANDY AND GARY,
AND WAS JUST SO EXCITED TO MEET EVERYBODY.
PROBABLY ONE OF THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF MY LIFE.
Randy: BLOWN AWAY YET AGAIN.
I BELIEVE IT WAS TOTAL FATE,
THAT SOMEHOW SOMEONE SOMEWHERE
THOUGHT IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN DUE TIME
FOR THESE CHILDREN TO BE TOGETHER AS SIBLINGS.
WE WERE ALL TOGETHER, FINALLY, IN ONE ROOM.
THINKING, "THIS HAS TO BE -- THIS HAS TO BE THE END."
YOU KNOW, LIKE, "THIS IS IT."
AFTER ALL THIS, I AM A CHANGED PERSON.
IT'S BIGGER THAN JUST A COUPLE COINCIDENCES.
FINDING A WHOLE NEW FAMILY IN LESS THAN A WEEK
IS JUST SOMETHING I CAN NEVER IMAGINE HAPPENING.