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Ask Amy: DNA discovery leads to awkward reality

Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

Dear Amy: I recently completed genetic testing and learned that my brother and I are half-siblings.

We have the same mother, but we do not have the same father.

Fortunately, my mother (who is in her late 80s) is still living, so I asked her about our fathers.

She said that my dad was sterile, so she and my dad used IVF to have my brother and me.

I was not too surprised to learn that my brother and I are only half-siblings because we were never that close.

The issue is my mom doesn’t want me to tell my brother. She is embarrassed and doesn’t want anyone to know.

 

My brother has health issues, and I sometimes go to doctor appointments with him.

He continues to tell the doctors things like, “My dad had heart issues.”

I find it very hard to not say anything.

My concern is the doctors might miss something if they rely on family history.

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