1 00:00:00,233 --> 00:00:01,100 >> Hill: ON THIS THANKSGIVING 2 00:00:01,100 --> 00:00:02,433 WEEKEND, WE HAVE A STORY FROM 3 00:00:02,433 --> 00:00:04,333 MINNESOTA'S TWIN CITIES PBS 4 00:00:04,333 --> 00:00:06,400 STATION ABOUT FINDING FAMILY. 5 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:08,366 THIS PAST SUMMER, KAOMI LEE 6 00:00:08,366 --> 00:00:10,066 SHARED HER PERSONAL STORY. 7 00:00:10,066 --> 00:00:11,166 LIKE MANY OF THE MORE THAN 8 00:00:11,166 --> 00:00:13,300 200,000 ADOPTED KOREANS AROUND 9 00:00:13,300 --> 00:00:15,266 THE WORLD, LEE WAS ADOPTED AS A 10 00:00:15,266 --> 00:00:16,800 SMALL CHILD, BROUGHT TO A NEW 11 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:18,266 COUNTRY, AND RAISED BY PARENTS 12 00:00:18,266 --> 00:00:19,666 OF A DIFFERENT RACE. 13 00:00:19,666 --> 00:00:20,866 LEE STILL DOES NOT KNOW HER 14 00:00:20,866 --> 00:00:22,700 BIRTH PARENTS, BUT A DECISION TO 15 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:24,166 SHARE HER RESULTS FROM A D.N.A. 16 00:00:24,166 --> 00:00:26,033 TEST BROUGHT A SURPRISING 17 00:00:26,033 --> 00:00:27,933 DISCOVERY. 18 00:00:27,933 --> 00:00:29,366 >> WITH MOST OF THE STATE IN 19 00:00:29,366 --> 00:00:31,333 DROUGHT CONDITIONS AND HALF THE 20 00:00:31,333 --> 00:00:33,400 STATE IN SEVERE DROUGHT... 21 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:34,233 >> Reporter: AS ALMANAC'S 22 00:00:34,233 --> 00:00:36,300 GREATER MINNESOTA REPORTER, I 23 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:37,966 USUALLY REPORT ON STORIES FROM 24 00:00:37,966 --> 00:00:39,500 AROUND THE STATE. 25 00:00:39,500 --> 00:00:41,066 THIS STORY IS A LITTLE 26 00:00:41,066 --> 00:00:42,400 DIFFERENT. 27 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:43,233 THIS IS ACTUALLY WHEN I BECAME A 28 00:00:43,233 --> 00:00:44,700 CITIZEN. 29 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:46,800 50 YEARS AGO, I WAS ADOPTED AS 30 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,566 AN INFANT FROM SOUTH KOREA AND 31 00:00:49,566 --> 00:00:51,433 SENT TO A LUTHERAN PASTOR AND 32 00:00:51,433 --> 00:00:53,900 HIS WIFE IN RURAL MINNESOTA. 33 00:00:53,900 --> 00:00:55,300 I THOUGHT I LEFT KOREA WITH JUST 34 00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:58,300 A NAME, A PRESUMED BIRTH DATE 35 00:00:58,300 --> 00:01:00,566 AND THE CLOTHES ON MY BACK, WITH 36 00:01:00,566 --> 00:01:03,166 NO HOPE OF FINDING FAMILY. 37 00:01:03,166 --> 00:01:05,366 LITTLE DID I KNOW I ALSO HAD 38 00:01:05,366 --> 00:01:07,433 SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL: MY 39 00:01:07,433 --> 00:01:08,966 D.N.A. 40 00:01:08,966 --> 00:01:10,200 AND I'’’M NOT ALONE. 41 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:11,600 >> WELL, BEN HAS SPOKEN TO HIS 42 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:13,333 HALF BROTHER, JEFF, BUT THEY'VE 43 00:01:13,333 --> 00:01:16,033 NEVER MET FACE TO FACE UNTIL 44 00:01:16,033 --> 00:01:17,066 NOW. 45 00:01:17,066 --> 00:01:18,400 BEN, ARE YOU READY? 46 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,600 >> I'’’M READY. 47 00:01:20,066 --> 00:01:23,400 >> JEFF, COME ON OUT. 48 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,133 ( APPLAUSE ) 49 00:01:25,133 --> 00:01:25,833 >> Reporter: COMMERCIAL D.N.A. 50 00:01:25,833 --> 00:01:27,100 TESTS HAVE BEEN CONNECTING 51 00:01:27,100 --> 00:01:28,733 RELATIVES TO EACH OTHER FOR THE 52 00:01:28,733 --> 00:01:30,933 PAST 15 YEARS. 53 00:01:30,933 --> 00:01:32,800 FOR KOREAN ADOPTEES WHO OFTEN 54 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:34,566 CAN'T ACCESS RECORDS OR BIRTH 55 00:01:34,566 --> 00:01:37,066 IDENTITIES, THE TESTS HAVE BEEN 56 00:01:37,066 --> 00:01:38,133 A GAME CHANGER. 57 00:01:38,133 --> 00:01:39,266 >> RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OVER 12 58 00:01:39,266 --> 00:01:41,933 MILLION CUSTOMERS, AND ABOUT 80% 59 00:01:41,933 --> 00:01:44,400 OF THOSE CUSTOMERS HAVE FOUND A 60 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:45,766 THIRD COUSIN OR CLOSER. 61 00:01:45,766 --> 00:01:46,700 I THINK A LOT OF THIS 62 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:49,066 INFORMATION IS REALLY INVALUABLE 63 00:01:49,066 --> 00:01:50,700 FOR EVERYONE, BUT SPECIFICALLY 64 00:01:50,700 --> 00:01:52,766 FOR ADOPTEES, YOU KNOW-- 65 00:01:52,766 --> 00:01:54,900 ESPECIALLY BECAUSE TYPICALLY 66 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:56,800 ADOPTEES DON'T HAVE FAMILY 67 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:58,266 HISTORY, WHETHER IT'S THEIR 68 00:01:58,266 --> 00:02:00,400 ANCESTRY OR HEALTH. 69 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:01,933 AND ACTUALLY CERTAIN ANCESTRIES 70 00:02:01,933 --> 00:02:03,800 CAN PUT YOU AT A HIGHER RISK OF 71 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:05,766 DEVELOPING CERTAIN DISEASES, AND 72 00:02:05,766 --> 00:02:07,166 SO WE'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY 73 00:02:07,166 --> 00:02:09,233 CUSTOMERS IT'S IMPACTED THEIR 74 00:02:09,233 --> 00:02:10,600 LIVES TREMENDOUSLY. 75 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,100 >> Reporter: I TOOK 23andMe's 76 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:14,333 D.N.A. TEST FIVE YEARS AGO. 77 00:02:14,333 --> 00:02:15,700 I SHARED THE RESULTS ON SOME 78 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:17,766 OTHER DATABASES, AND THEN THIS 79 00:02:17,766 --> 00:02:20,100 SPRING I GOT A MESSAGE. 80 00:02:20,100 --> 00:02:21,433 SOMEONE IN DENMARK THOUGHT THEY 81 00:02:21,433 --> 00:02:23,866 WERE MY HALF SISTER OR NIECE, 82 00:02:23,866 --> 00:02:26,300 AND LIKE ME SHE WAS ALSO A 83 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:27,433 KOREAN ADOPTEE. 84 00:02:27,433 --> 00:02:29,066 >> YOU KNOW, I THINK, OH, YOU 85 00:02:29,066 --> 00:02:30,733 JUST TAKE IT A DAY AT A TIME. 86 00:02:30,733 --> 00:02:32,233 >> Reporter: WE DID MORE TESTS. 87 00:02:32,233 --> 00:02:33,866 ALL SIGNS POINTED TO HALF 88 00:02:33,866 --> 00:02:34,733 SISTERS. 89 00:02:34,733 --> 00:02:36,000 BUT AFTER DENMARK OPENED TO 90 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:42,500 VISITORS, I DECIDED TO FLY AND 91 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:44,200 MEET LISA BECK. 92 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:46,033 BUT I WAS STILL NERVOUS. 93 00:02:46,033 --> 00:02:47,366 HOW WOULD IT FEEL TO MEET A 94 00:02:47,366 --> 00:02:49,533 PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN BIOLOGICAL 95 00:02:49,533 --> 00:02:52,000 SIBLING FOR THE FIRST TIME? 96 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:53,533 WOULD WE GET ALONG? 97 00:02:53,533 --> 00:02:55,166 WOULD WE HAVE ANYTHING TO TALK 98 00:02:55,166 --> 00:02:56,300 ABOUT? 99 00:02:56,300 --> 00:02:58,266 WOULD MEETING HER HELP ME BETTER 100 00:02:58,266 --> 00:03:01,900 UNDERSTAND MYSELF? 101 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:03,500 THEN, THE MOMENT HAPPENED. 102 00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:05,900 >> I'M TEARING UP, OH! 103 00:03:05,900 --> 00:03:11,733 ( UNINTELLIGIBLE ) 104 00:03:11,733 --> 00:03:13,000 >> DID YOU WAIT A LONG TIME? 105 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:14,500 >> YES, AND I WAS GETTING 106 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:15,066 NERVOUS! 107 00:03:15,066 --> 00:03:17,366 >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. 108 00:03:17,366 --> 00:03:18,333 >> OH, HOW NICE TO SEE YOU! 109 00:03:18,333 --> 00:03:20,866 >> SO NICE TO SEE YOU! 110 00:03:20,866 --> 00:03:21,600 >> Reporter: WE GOT A CHANCE TO 111 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,033 SIT DOWN TOGETHER, FACE TO FACE. 112 00:03:24,033 --> 00:03:25,533 I LEARNED THAT LISA DECIDED TO 113 00:03:25,533 --> 00:03:28,100 DO A D.N.A. TEST ON A WHIM. 114 00:03:28,100 --> 00:03:29,433 >> EARLY MORNING, I LAY IN MY 115 00:03:29,433 --> 00:03:31,233 BED, AND I WAS VERY TIRED. 116 00:03:31,233 --> 00:03:32,866 AND I JUST TOOK MY PHONE OUT AND 117 00:03:32,866 --> 00:03:34,733 THEN, "OH, WHAT? 118 00:03:34,733 --> 00:03:36,066 I HAVE A SISTER!" 119 00:03:36,066 --> 00:03:39,166 I WAS SO CONFUSED AND EXCITED AT 120 00:03:39,166 --> 00:03:42,466 THE SAME TIME, YEAH. 121 00:03:42,466 --> 00:03:43,133 >> Reporter: WHAT WAS GOING 122 00:03:43,133 --> 00:03:44,200 THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN-- WHEN 123 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,100 YOU SAW ME? 124 00:03:46,100 --> 00:03:48,400 >> I WAS AMAZED. 125 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,733 I WAS SURPRISED BECAUSE I CAN 126 00:03:51,733 --> 00:03:54,300 SEE THE SIMILARITIES, BUT I 127 00:03:54,300 --> 00:03:55,733 CAN'T PUT A FINGER ON IT, YOU 128 00:03:55,733 --> 00:03:59,733 KNOW, EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. 129 00:03:59,733 --> 00:04:01,766 BUT I CAN SEE WE LOOK ALIKE, YOU 130 00:04:01,766 --> 00:04:04,833 KNOW-- NOSE, MOUTH, CHEEKS, AND 131 00:04:04,833 --> 00:04:05,500 SO ON. 132 00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:06,066 SO, I CAN SEE WE-- 133 00:04:06,066 --> 00:04:06,800 >> Reporter: I CAN SEE IT IN THE 134 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:07,366 EYES. 135 00:04:07,366 --> 00:04:08,433 >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. 136 00:04:08,433 --> 00:04:11,100 SO, I CAN SEE WE LOOK SIMILAR. 137 00:04:11,100 --> 00:04:12,066 >> Reporter: LISA AND I DON'T 138 00:04:12,066 --> 00:04:14,166 KNOW WHO OUR BIRTH PARENTS ARE. 139 00:04:14,166 --> 00:04:15,400 FINDING EACH OTHER THROUGH 140 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:18,000 D.N.A. FEELS LIKE BEATING ALL 141 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:19,133 ODDS. 142 00:04:19,133 --> 00:04:20,900 OUR STORY WAS EVEN FEATURED ON 143 00:04:20,900 --> 00:04:23,400 NATIONAL DANISH TV. 144 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:25,233 ( UNINTELLIGIBLE ) 145 00:04:25,233 --> 00:04:27,433 >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. 146 00:04:27,433 --> 00:04:29,200 >> WE-- WE DID IT! 147 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:29,933 >> WE DID IT! 148 00:04:29,933 --> 00:04:30,933 ( LAUGHTER ) 149 00:04:30,933 --> 00:04:31,633 >> Reporter: WE ALSO MET WITH 150 00:04:31,633 --> 00:04:33,533 KOREAN ADOPTEES IN DENMARK. 151 00:04:33,533 --> 00:04:35,600 LIKE MINNESOTA, THERE ARE 152 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:36,800 THOUSANDS HERE. 153 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,166 >> NICE TO MEET YOU! 154 00:04:38,166 --> 00:04:39,533 >> Reporter: LISA AND I HAD FUN 155 00:04:39,533 --> 00:04:40,700 GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER 156 00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:43,133 DURING THE SHORT VISIT, BUT 157 00:04:43,133 --> 00:04:45,633 INSTEAD OF ANSWERING QUESTIONS, 158 00:04:45,633 --> 00:04:47,666 MEETING LISA CREATED MORE. 159 00:04:47,666 --> 00:04:49,666 NOW THAT I KNOW ABOUT YOU, IT 160 00:04:49,666 --> 00:04:51,666 JUST MAKES ME START TO, YOU 161 00:04:51,666 --> 00:04:52,766 KNOW, GO DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE 162 00:04:52,766 --> 00:04:55,900 OF, WHO WAS-- WHO WAS OUR 163 00:04:55,900 --> 00:04:56,533 FATHER? 164 00:04:56,533 --> 00:04:58,500 WHAT-- IS HE STILL ALIVE? 165 00:04:58,500 --> 00:04:59,733 DO WE HAVE OTHER SIBLINGS OUT 166 00:04:59,733 --> 00:05:00,600 THERE? 167 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:02,100 I'M ALSO VERY AWARE THAT MANY 168 00:05:02,100 --> 00:05:05,166 ADOPTEES DO NOT GET THIS 169 00:05:05,166 --> 00:05:07,033 OPPORTUNITY, AND THAT HELPS ME 170 00:05:07,033 --> 00:05:11,533 TO KNOW HOW SPECIAL IT IS THAT 171 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:11,566 WE-- WE DID FIND EACH OTHER.