Dani Shapiro Opens Up About DNA Shocker That Changed Her Life | TODAY

Author Dani Shapiro questioned everything she thought she knew about her identity when a bombshell DNA discovery exposed a shocking family secret. Shapiro joins TODAY to share her story, which is detailed in her book, “Inheritance.”

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Dani Shapiro Opens Up About DNA Shocker That Changed Her Life | TODAY

[EchoBravo]

Honestly, if she was raised by a man who gave her bear hugs and valued her, she is lucky. I was raised by my biological father and he gave us none of that.

[marthawarrington]

She looks nothing like him, but the love he gave her is what truly matters

[stuartsmithson]

I found out at the age 63 through AncestryDNA who my father is. He is 88 and lives 2 hrs away from me. I’ve meet him, cousins and a sister. It’s like I’ve known him forever. It was a shock for both of us, he knew nothing about me and I was told someone else was my dad. There’s more to the story but that’s the jist of it.

[Cothteh]

I also found out at age 62 that my birth certificate father was not my biological father. I had always struggled to see any resemblance to him but as soon as I saw a picture of my bio father I knew who I looked like. Quite a shock that takes time to process...don't do a DNA test if you cannot handle what you might find out.

[carolynsmith]

Fathers can be anyone. Daddies take care of you and love you no matter what.

[galaxi]

She had a father that she loved who took care of her, people don't even get that from their biological father. She's fortunate to have had that life and people who loved her. Blood, DNA really doesn't matter.

[laurieskerchek]

This happened to me my dad is not my dad family said my thinking was odd that it was no big im happy that listening to this that I am normal in my feelings .... now just experiencing identity issues ...oddly I felt like an outcast in my life and family it makes sense now I believe souls are connected and your higher consious knows all

[cplmpcocptcl]

Everyone DESERVES to know their biological parents. My Mother states I’m not her biological child. Considering she hates me, I consider this a good thing.

[AuntieSDC]

She had a very charmed life with her family of Shapiro.  They exposed her to travel etc.  The person who raised you is your parent, blood does not necessary mean that you will be treated like family.

[sherrytee]

"He feels like the country I'm from"...profound words, I'm hoping for that too one day. Bless you for sharing ♥️

[culturalobserver]

Gosh, one can tell very quickly that Dani looks English/Celtic! I’ve known several women from the UK/Ireland who look very very similar to her!! Plus, it was pretty obvious that she looked nothing like the father who raised her, but Dani seemed to have a wonderful relationship with him!!

[piayugamer]

So glad to hear it had a happy ending for both father and daughter. Family is always nature, nurture and culture. All that matters is that this child had a great family life growing up with a family who adores her.

[ruthlloyd]

I found out I was adopted at 45.
I always suspected I was adopted because I didn’t look much like either of my parents. I met my birthmother and became friends with her, my birth father died. Family is more about who loves you and took care of you, less about blood. My parents thought they couldn’t have kids when I was adopted. My 3 younger sisters came along in quick succession. I’m glad we didn’t know growing up, it might have divided us. Still, I should have been told before I married and had kids. You need to know your inherited medical issues, if known. Fortunately my kids are healthy, but I was concerned about issues in my adopted family that were not applicable to me.

[mombee]

Dani, bless your heart you had a father that truly loved you. What a wonderful feeling I’m sure, you are very gracious. I lost my father at 5 yrs old, my mother remarried a man who I was told is now my new father and never mention your real father ever again in the house. As a child you do what you are told and I was happy to “supposedly “ now have a father, step-father doesn’t matter if your are truly loved. Like yourself. Your Dad sounds wonderful. I wanted a father so badly at the age of 8 now. When my mother and father had a child of their own, I realized at about 16 my life in the house along my older siblings was a farse. You go along though thinking this can’t be happening, my mother went along with it as well, we were the step-kids in fact, we didn’t matter. When my Mom died, we were told never to come back to the home my Mom bought pre marriage, where we grew up from the age of 5 and up. The truth was their black and white. The grandchildren never to see the home ever. One thing my mother did do for us, was make it very clear to be on our own at an early age, told us to be independent and not expect any support or guidance in our lives. Thank God my biological Dad was a vet and I went to college on the GI bill, made my own life at 17, same with my older siblings..we got the message we weren’t part of that house so many times. What I realized is my mother was a sick person, many demons to turn her back on her children. She married someone just as sick. And now their daughter is alone with no connection to any of her siblings, it was and still is all about her. Could write a book about our family, its a sad story but in the end I came out ahead!! My Dad died fighting for this country as a Marine and am proud he laid down his life for our freedoms and what he did for his children and grandchildren. The true meaning of a man and a loving father. God bless you.

[lin]

Your father that you call Dad is your father.

[graceanne]

I am from Dublin and she looks unbelievably Irish to me. It’s almost hard to believe that she ever believed she was 100% Eastern European ashkenazi jewish.

[KiKiQuiQuiKiKi]

I love (sarcasm) how “journalists” know the precise moments to interrupt profound, personal experience-telling in order to halt the flow and the message.

[Kristen]

Through Ancestry, I found out that my grandmother cheated on her husband, and my dad's biological father was his mothers family doctor. I have uncles, aunts, and cousins that I have never even met before. I wish my grandmother would've been honest from the get-go. Her husband was horrible to my dad. Abusive. Never gave him the time of day. Looking at my dad, and his biological father, it's obvious that they are father and son. I can understand what this lady is going through.

[crystaltelf]

You were a lucky little girl to have such a loving Dad!

[joyceward]

She said her mother let it slip some time before all of this that she was conceived by artificial insemination and where it was done. So, hasn't she known all along that her father wasn't her biological father? Why did it come as a surprise? Or is she surprised that the donor wasn't the same ancestry as her parents? I'm confused.