This article was originally published on DailyBee
Mark Had a Passion for Broadcasting
From San Fran to stardom, Whit Johnson's rise to success has been nothing short of extraordinary. A childhood dream of becoming a reporter paved the way for Johnson's stellar career in broadcasting. Graduating with a degree in Television and Radio Broadcasting from San Francisco State University, he was determined to make his mark in the industry. And make his mark he did! With stints at CBS News, KNBS Los Angeles, and Olympic coverage, Johnson's reputation grew.
Little did he know, he'd soon be reporting on his own remarkable family discovery.
He Had a Close Relationship With His Family
Whit had always valued his family, but moving to New York in 2018 made him realize just how much. He landed a job as a full-time correspondent at ABC News alongside his wife, Andrea Fuji, a fellow ABC News reporter. The duo was happy in love, and with their two beautiful daughters, Leah and Summer, he was a picture-perfect dad and husband. Being raised by divorced parents, Sharon and Steve had always left Whit with some nagging questions about his genetic makeup.
With his own young family, these questions only intensified, prompting him to embark on a quest for answers about his heritage.
His Father Meant Everything to Him
Whit always looked up to his dad, Steve. Steve was Whit's hero and biggest role model from a young age. They had an unbreakable bond, but even their tight-knit relationship had its secrets. He realized that there was so much more to his father than what met the eye. As Whit unraveled the unknown history of his father's life, it left him shaken. However, this didn't tarnish the admiration and respect he had for Steve.
If anything, it gave him a newfound appreciation for the man he looked up to his whole life.
His Mom and Step Dad Encouraged Him to Explore His Heritage
Whit's journey into the world of broadcasting was influenced by another important man in his life: his stepfather and longtime radio host, Dean Edell. As the child of divorced parents, Whit found solace and support in his mom's partner, with whom he had a good relationship. It was through Dean Edell that he discovered his passion for broadcasting and curiosity for a good story, paving the way for his successful career in the industry.
That same curiosity played out in his personal life, and his mom encouraged it specifically when it came to exploring his father's past and their family origins.
Unraveling the Mystery of Whit's Ancestry
His mom, Sharon, always encouraged him to explore his ancestry because they were unsure of his father's origins. At first, Whit was hesitant and not sure about it. But then he found out his mother took a DNA test herself. She found it fascinating and revealed her results with Whit! She came from a Caucasian and European background. But they had no idea what Whit's DNA test would look like.
However, for Whit, discovering his ancestry seemed like a far-fetched idea. But why was that? This was because his dad's origins remained a mystery!
Whit's Father Was Adopted
The year was 1950, and a baby boy named Steve was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. However, the joy of his birth was short-lived, as his biological family made the heart-wrenching decision to give him up for adoption. Little did they know that their baby boy would go on to have a son of his own, Whit! Despite Steve being content with his adoptive family, his past always lingered in the back of his mind.
He often wondered about his biological family and the circumstances that led to his adoption but never took any action. Although his son, Whit, was ready to take the plunge for him.
Whit Wanted to Uncover His Dad's Past
Steve was always thankful for his adoptive parents and never wanted to upset them. He held them in such high regard that he believed searching for his biological family could create a divide within their family. But little did Steve know that his son had not given up on the search at all. He was about to expose a secret history, one that tied him back to his biological family.
Since Steve wasn't interested in uncovering his family's past, Whit took it upon himself to figure it out by himself.
His Mom Pushed Him to Take the DNA Test
Whit always had a burning curiosity about what was out there. Even though his dad wasn't interested, Whit couldn't shake the desire to know more. The lack of answers only led to more questions. Fortunately, his mom and wife, Andrea, were more persistent despite his dad's reluctance. It was Whit's mom who handed him the test tube and insisted it was easy and all he had to do was spit!
Whit took the DNA test and discovered a new world of knowledge about his ancestry. Sometimes, it takes a little nudge from the people around us to uncover what we've been missing.
Now All They Had to Do Was Wait for the Results
Whit sat at the dinner table with his mom, filled out an online profile, and sent away a test tube, unaware of how much his life would change. For a month, he forgot about it until an unexpected email arrived. Suddenly, everything shifted. Whit's world turned upside down as the message delivered a life-altering surprise that left him stunned. His mom sat next to him, with tears in her eyes, as they both realized the significance of the step they'd taken.
In a moment of curiosity, they'd stumbled upon a truth that would shape their lives forever.
The Results Revealed a Part of Their Past They Didn't Know About
With excitement bubbling inside, Whit couldn't wait to open the 23AndMe email titled "We have your results." His eyes widened with curiosity and anticipation as he clicked on the message. In an instant, he was transported to his profile page, where he found his genetic information laid out before him. It was intriguing to see that his mother's results were also displayed. He could clearly identify his Western European roots, including his British/Irish/Scottish heritage.
But then, a mystery unfolded, and he was surprised by the unfamiliar information it revealed.
His Heritage Isn't What He Thought It Was
Despite his initial skepticism, Whit was thrilled to uncover the truth about his family's history. After receiving the results, he was surprised to discover that the other half of his genetic makeup was unfamiliar to him. The test revealed that he was Basque Spanish and had a small percentage of Native American ancestry, which he knew must have come from his father's side. Since his father was adopted, this was all brand new information to them.
Little did Whit know the DNA test would reveal even more secrets about his father's past. Something that no one saw coming.
A List of Relatives Popped up With Spanish Names
With a few clicks and some swipes, Whit unlocked a whole new world. The service promised to connect him with long-lost relatives through his DNA. As he worked his way through the website, a section called “Your DNA Relatives” caught his eye, and what he found sent chills down his spine. Distant relatives, fourth, fifth cousins - it was all fascinating, but it was the list of Spanish-sounding names that had him transfixed. The name Johnson, so familiar to him, now seemed like a stranger.
He knew he had to explore the DNA relatives list and see if there was a match.
Whit Apparently Had a Cousin He Didn't Know About
As Whit nervously clicked through the DNA testing website, his heart raced with anticipation. The message warned him of potential shocks to come, setting an eerie tone that left him on edge. But as he scrolled through the results, his mother's name appeared - no surprise there. However, a chill ran down his spine as he spotted the name of a "possible first cousin." Whit's mind raced as he remembered his mom's siblings had no kids.
Could he have just uncovered a new, unknown family member? A new cousin that he never knew about?
He Had to Know Who This Mysterious Relative Was
With every click of the mouse, Whit's heart raced faster. He had stumbled upon a potential first cousin, and he knew this discovery could uncover many hidden family secrets. This wasn't just a distant relative - this was someone who could lead him straight to the heart of his grandparents. His eyes darted across the screen, scanning every detail of the profile, every clue that might reveal who this person really was.
And then, in an instant, there it was - a name and picture, so clear it felt like it was staring back at him from the screen.
This Long-Lost Relative Looked Identical to His Dad
Whit opened the profile of this alleged cousin and couldn't believe what he was seeing. He enlarged the profile picture and felt like he was looking at a carbon copy of his own dad. Without warning, he had discovered a new relative - and the resemblance to his own father was uncanny. Whit was in such disbelief that he shared in an interview that he had to sit there for a few moments, trying to take it all in.
What other secrets were waiting to be uncovered? And who exactly was this man that he just discovered?
This Man Had to Be His Dad's Brother
Whit's world turned upside down as he gazed at the man on his computer screen. It was like looking at his father's long-lost twin. The resemblance was undeniable, but there was no way he was Whit's cousin. He knew there had to be a connection there he was unaware of. Steve, his dad, had been adopted and never attempted to find any of his family members, so they were unsure if this could lead them to his biological family.
As he delved deeper, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this mystery than met the eye.
There Was No Denying the Connection
Whit's heart pounded as he stared at the photograph, feeling a sense of foreboding wash over him. He had never seen this man before, yet there was something eerily familiar about him. As he analyzed every detail of the picture, his mind raced with questions. Who was this man? Did he have any connection to Whit's past? And then it hit him - the man's eyes, his mouth, and even Whit's own dimples.
The pieces clicked together like a jigsaw puzzle, and suddenly, Whit knew the truth.
Whit Knew It Was Time to Tell His Dad What He Found Out
As Whit stared at the screen, he knew the next step would be the toughest. He had uncovered a long-lost family member, but now he had to decide how to break the news to his father. His mind raced as he weighed the options. Should he contact the stranger first or reveal the truth to his dad straight away? Despite the apprehension in his gut, he couldn't resist reaching out to the newfound relative.
Little did he know that this simple decision would unleash a cascade of events that would rock his world to its core.
Whit Contemplated Reaching Out to This DNA Match Before His Dad Could Know
As he stared at the name on the screen, his heart raced with fear. Whit knew he had to reach out to this man named Bear, but the consequences of doing so could be scary. Whit wanted to just send a simple message asking where the guy was from, but something held him back. His dad never had any interest in finding his own biological family, so would Whit be crossing a line here?
Naturally, his curiosity wouldn't subside, and the question remained: would he have the courage to press send and reach out to Bear?
Steve Was Ready to Learn About His Birth Family
As Steve's adoptive parents passed away, his curiosity began to grow. He knew the topic of his biological family would raise sensitive concerns about disrespecting his loving adoptive parents, and that's essentially what stopped him from ever searching for his birth family. But Steve's will had shifted, and a search for his roots loomed. When he'd come to terms with his desires, Whit entered the picture, raring to share the good news with his father.
But before the conversation could occur, Whit sought guidance from his mom and wife on how he should approach the situation.
Reaching Out to His Stepmom for Advice
He wanted to reach out to his stepmom first and get some advice on what she thought he should do. Could his dad handle this kind of information right now? Was he even interested in finding his family if this really was his brother? He emailed his dad's wife the DNA results he received and a picture of the man that was a DNA match. She couldn't believe her eyes or deny the resemblance.
Suddenly, the discovery he had stumbled upon seemed to be much bigger than he had imagined.
Whit Had to Work up the Courage to Tell His Dad
Whit prepared to have the conversation with his dad's wife and knew that what he was about to say could change their entire family dynamic. With each passing moment, the weight of the news seemed to grow heavier on his shoulders. Finally, he mustered up the courage to tell her about the potential biological brother they had found. But when his dad's wife responded excitedly, he knew they were in for a wild ride.
With Steve's birthday just days away, Whit had the perfect gift to give him. But how would his dad react?
Whit Was on the Brink of Finding His Dad's Biological Family
Meanwhile, he found himself deep in conversation with his new DNA match. They shared details and swapped stories, and Whit was surprised to learn that this long-lost relative was just as confused as he was. How could they have gone their entire lives without knowing about each other? Suddenly, the man responded with a shocking message. Although this man, Bear, was confused, he was open to talking to Whit and exploring their connection.
What would this stranger reveal to him when they exchange stories, and would his father want to know?
This Man Revealed He Was Also Adopted
Whit's heart was pounding as he nervously revealed his dad's adoption story to the man on the other end of the phone. The tension in the room was palpable as he recounted everything he knew about his father's past, desperately hoping for a breakthrough. As he listened to the man speak, his eagerness grew - could this stranger hold the key to their family's secrets? Then, the real bombshell hit.
The man revealed that he felt he was, in fact, Whit's dad's long-lost brother. This was just the beginning of an incredible journey to uncover the truth about his family's past.
He Finally Told His Dad About This Familial Discovery
As Whit anxiously waited for his dad to call him back, he couldn't help but wonder if this could really be happening. Maybe the DNA match was more than just a coincidence. Perhaps this man was more than just a distant cousin. He could sense the urgency in his father's voice, already on the brink of tears. And then came the bombshell, the news that could change their entire family dynamic.
The truth was out, and it was only a matter of time before the past caught up with them all.
His Dad Was Shocked by the Possibility of Having a Brother
Whit’s heart pounded as he finally mustered up the courage to tell his father the news. Whit revealed to his dad on the phone everything he had been doing behind the scenes. The DNA test, the matches, the conversation with this man named Bear, and how they thought he could be a long-lost brother. The floodgates of emotions were released. His dad was overcome with emotions! But most importantly, eager to meet this guy.
Now, Whit's dad didn't have to search for his birth family! The hard part of searching was already over, and now they had to decide what to do next.
Their Family Dynamic Would Change Forever
At first hesitant to dive in, Steve's reluctance soon turned to amazement as the news unfolded before his very eyes. Tears were shed as the magnitude of this discovery sank in. He wanted to celebrate and reach out to this man. They were ecstatic, and everyone around Steve encouraged him to email his potential brother. Though Whit had been messaging Bear, it was time for Steve to take the leap of faith.
Steve emailed Bear, and they began messaging back and forth in disbelief that they could actually be family, even more so brothers.
Brothers Reunited by Fate
Steve's heart raced as he eagerly clicked send on the email to his newly discovered relative. The thought of having a brother after growing up an orphan was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. As Steve poured his heart out in the email, he couldn't help but feel a sense of kinship with Bear, having both grown up as adopted children. Whit watched on, curious and perhaps a bit apprehensive, as the email thread unfolded. Who knew where this newfound connection would lead?
The whole family was excited for Steve and unsure of what the next step would be.
Whit's Dad Couldn't Contain His Excitement Anymore
When Steve received a response from Bear almost immediately after reaching out, he couldn't believe his luck. The two brothers talked all day, recounting childhood memories and filling each other in on the years they spent apart. As the conversation wore on, a sense of belonging washed over them. It was both sweet and terrifying to think that they may have found the family they had been missing for so long.
Steve's final sign-off perfectly summed up his whirlwind of emotions. "I'm going fishing and wondering if I have a long-lost brother out there named Bear."
They Came Into Each Other's Lives by Fate but It Was Time to Meet in Person
Another eerie revelation the new family had made was when Bear shared he lived in Utah. Well, it turned out that Whit had lived and worked as a reporter in Utah for years. Bear revealed he remembered watching Whit on the news plenty of times, and he never knew he was actually watching his nephew all along. All this time, the family had been close by without ever knowing it.
After much back and forth on the phone and over email, they all knew what they had to do next. It was time for a long overdue reunion.
The Nerve-Racking Encounter
As Steve and Bear's online friendship grew, the two men eventually decided to meet in person. And, of course, since Whit is a passionate journalist, he was eager to be a part of this meeting and document it all. Steve was excited about meeting Bear and exploring the possibility of having more in common than just their striking resemblance. He remembers wondering if maybe they walked the same or sounded the same when they spoke.
With Whit capturing the entire encounter, it was clear that their first in-person meeting would be a memorable one.
Long Lost Brothers Finally Meet After Decades Apart
It was a reunion that seemed like something out of a movie. After years of separation and not knowing the other existed, the two long-lost brothers finally met in person. The emotional moment was documented by Whit, who captured every detail of the encounter. The pair eventually came together in Utah and could share in the things they had in common. For the siblings, discovering that they had a brother after all these years was undoubtedly strange.
The experience must have been surreal for Whit, as he came face-to-face with his father's doppelganger in real life.
They Were Becoming One Big Family
After a whirlwind of emotions, Steve and Whit's family tree only continued to blossom with new revelations and surprises. It wasn't long after their reunion that they discovered Bear had a daughter, which made Whit ecstatic to finally have met his first cousin. The connection between the family members only grew stronger as they kept in close contact, making arrangements for both newly found relatives to meet in California to meet Whit's wife and kids.
As if the newfound family wasn't enough, Steve and Bear were able to dig up even more legal records and documents that brought another surprise to their lives.
The Tale of Secret Third Brother
In the era of DNA testing, it's rare to discover an unknown relative. But for two siblings, a startling discovery unfolded when their DNA results revealed another long-lost relative. In this case, the siblings' DNA tests matched with a person that neither of them knew: a brother! Overwhelmed with curiosity, Steve reached out to this mystery man with a heartfelt letter detailing the story of their familial connection, wondering if this could really be another sibling.
After anxiously waiting for a response, a letter finally arrived, and the secret brother number three was revealed.
They All Had the Same Mother
When they stumbled upon their eldest sibling, Uncle Gerry, it was as if fate had finally intervened. He had been living in Wyoming, and despite the distance, he drove all the way to Salt Lake City to be reunited with his long-lost family. Brother number three was filled with excitement and determined to get to the bottom of their family's intricate web. What he discovered, however, was even more bewildering than they could have ever imagined.
It was revealed that the three brothers had three different fathers but the same mother. And it was here that Uncle Gerry finally shared some valuable information about their birth mother, a mysterious figure who had remained hidden for many years.
Seeing a Photo of Their Mom for the First Time
Gerry revealed a secret that shocked his siblings to the core. In fact, Gerry had been raised by his biological grandparents, the parents of their birth mother. As the brothers sat in stunned silence, Gerry explained that their birth mother had been in and out of his life over the years. He had never known much about her or seen her. He even pulled out photos of her, which was when things got intense.
For Steve and Bear, this was incredibly emotional as they had never seen a photo of their mother before.
Steve's Childhood Photos Looked Just Like His Mothers
It was a reunion that was long overdue yet nothing short of miraculous. Two brothers, separated by circumstances they couldn't control, finally found each other after decades of living their lives apart. Only to soon discover they had an older brother, too! A side-by-side comparison of childhood photos and high school pictures made it strikingly clear that this group shared family ties. "It was like pieces of a puzzle just falling into place," said Whit.
For the brothers, the discovery of a hidden family was a realization that their roots and their history had been incomplete.
Their Search for Siblings Wasn't Over
Little did they know that even after all the revelations they had already encountered, their family story was far from over. And with each new discovery, the family gained a greater understanding of their complex past. One such revelation came from legal and genetic records that showed that their birth mother had also given birth to a daughter. It seemed there was another lost sibling that they were determined to find.
This new knowledge added yet another layer to the already complicated family dynamics. Who was their sister, and could they find her?
They're Still Searching for Their Missing Sister and Dads
After months of diligent research, the brothers' search for their long-lost sister has hit a dead end. Whit shared that although they have not lost hope, the whereabouts of their sibling remain unknown. Despite this, they remain optimistic that someday they can make contact and share what they have uncovered about their family history with her. Their quest for answers has led them to dive deep into public records and documents, unearthing valuable information about their ancestors. However, one mystery still remains.
The identity of their birth fathers are still unknown. Whit and the family have been tirelessly working to piece together this puzzle, but unfortunately, they have yet to make any connections.
Steve Gained Two New Brothers for Life
It's been a journey full of twists and turns for this family. Just when they thought they had uncovered all the life-changing revelations, there were still more secrets waiting to be discovered. The three brothers have yet to unravel the identity of their birth fathers, and the possibility of more siblings has kept them on the edge of their seats. But amidst the uncertainty and unanswered questions, there's still a glimmer of hope.
This rollercoaster has also helped them uncover a whole new side of the family that would have remained hidden if not for a simple DNA test.