I recently wrote several posts about the new reunion of D. and her "alleged" birth dad. Opps, did I forget to mention that they were not certain yet of their connection? Here's part 1. Below is a brief recap.

Their first meeting lasted 11 hours in which they felt very comfortable and happy to be together, At the end of that first meeting, D’s alleged birth dad pressed his Silver Star for his bravery in Viet Nam into her hand. He told her that being brave enough to contact him was one of the most courageous acts that he had ever heard – this from a man who served in Vietnam.

I ended the story with their joyous first meeting. What I left unsaid though was that even though D. and this man felt fairly certain that they were biologically father and daughter, they were not absolutely sure. Just to verify their connection, D. and this warm-hearted teddy bear of a man who embraced her with such joy and open arms, took a DNA test.

D. knew very little about her birth dad until reunion; she did not know that he had been in the military. However, she related to me an interesting event that happened when she was a teen. D. and her adoptive mom were watching t.v. and something came on about the Vietnam wall to honor soldiers who died in the war.

As D. sat that listening, she suddenly said, "He's there" as tears glistened in her eyes. Her mom looked at her oddly and asked who "he" was. "My birth father", D. responded. It was just a powerful feeling that she had. Not until reunion with her birth mom many years later did she find out that she was right. And, now D. has the Silver Star that her birth dad received for his courage in Vietnam.

D. emailed me recently and said that the DNA indicates their biological connection. Good thing! D. said that it only verified what she knew in her heart, that this man was her father. Boy, wouldn’t it have been disappointing if after their strong connection it turned out that they were not really related at all? Personally, I am very glad for them that they are. I wish them the best!