It’s true that we can never fully prepare for life’s unexpected surprises. And, as daunting and disheartening as these situations may feel in the moment, they oftentimes turn out to be blessings disguised as misfortunes. For instance, maybe you get into a car accident that dents your fender – initially an annoyance until you realize it was with someone who could potentially become your spouse or long-term friend. This chance encounter then changes our lives in ways unimaginable!
Embracing children through adoption is an incredible blessing. Parents make the thoughtful decision to continue with this process, however, they are unable to completely understand everything about their new family member’s genetic makeup – especially in situations where their birth parents remain unknown. This means that parents may not be able to alert them of potential health issues or other hereditary qualities that could have been passed down from generation to generation.
Exploring the secrets within your DNA is now easier than ever with a simple swab of your inner cheek; it’s no wonder why DNA tests have been so increasingly popular in recent years.
This tale is about a couple from Weldon Spring, Missouri who adopted their daughter all the way from China. After running DNA tests on their beloved little girl, they came to find out that there’s a lot of truth in the adage “blood is thicker than water”.
After birthing and raising three sons, Staci and James Maneage sought to expand their family through adoption. When they encountered a 10-year Hakka girl from China in need of a safe home, the couple knew she would fit right into their Missouri household. Without hesitation, the Manneages opened up their hearts – and homes – to her.
Elliana, the unfortunate orphan who experienced a brain disorder, brought out a compassionate response in the Maneages. When they learned of her condition, rather than becoming discouraged as other couples had done, they wanted to do all that was necessary to help her.
When the Maneage family arrived in America, fate gave them a special gift: meeting Paige and Steve Galbierz. Both families had adopted children from China, and even better–they attended the same church! It was truly an incredible coincidence that allowed them to bond over their shared experience.
Kinley Galbierz, a 7-year-old girl, and Elliana shared an unusual bond; both had the same brain disorder. Living only minutes from each other in their native country helped fuel a quick friendship between the two families.
Even though the two girls were adopted from different cities, they resembled each other and acted like sisters. However, considering China’s immense population of 1.4 billion people, it was nearly impossible that they could be related by blood – yet their families wanted to find out for sure. Consequently, both families decided to take a DNA test on the girls in order to have definitive proof of whether or not they truly were siblings!
The astounding result left everyone in awe.
Elliana and Kinley were believed to be long-lost sisters, with a 99.9% probability of being related according to their DNA results – which is practically an exact match!
Unbeknownst to them, the two sisters were not only related but had been adopted by families that went to the same church and lived just a few minutes away from each other.
This is amazing!
