Two North Dakota men are suing a local hospital after discovering they were switched at birth nearly four decades ago, a revelation brought to light by a surprise result from a direct-to-consumer genetic test.
The men joined Fox & Friends on Thursday to discuss their journey.
The mix-up was uncovered two years ago when Kyle Bylin received an at-home DNA test as a gift. Bylin says he was shocked when the results showed no genetic match to anyone in the family that raised him.
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“It was absolutely mind-blowing,” Bylin told Fox & Friends. “We knew the DNA trail didn’t make sense, but to find out you’ve been switched at birth is a huge revelation.”
Instead, the data pointed to a biological aunt, leading Bylin to her nephew, Jeremy Morrison. Subsequent DNA testing confirmed that Morrison and Bylin had been raised by each other’s biological families.
“[My parents] will always be my parents. A DNA test isn’t going to change 38 years of memories overnight,” Morrison said.
Morrison recalled having long-standing doubts while growing up, noting that he often made light of the physical differences between himself and the woman who raised him.
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“I kind of had a feeling inside that I was adopted or, you know, she stole me or something like that,” Morrison said. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he’d change what happened, he added.
“It’s a little bit of nature, a little bit of nurture, and you end up with the life that you have,” he said when asked if he’d go back and undo the switch.
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The emotional toll of the discovery has weighed heavily on both men as they grapple with the realization that their upbringings were altered.
“Do I feel like I lost the ability to truly connect with my biological parents? Absolutely,” Bylin said.
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The two men filed a lawsuit against Unity Medical Center alleging emotional distress caused by negligence and medical malpractice, claiming the facility robbed them of the lives they were meant to live.
Unity Medical Center denied responsibility for the incident, asserting that an internal review yielded no evidence showing hospital personnel were at fault. However, the medical center did not dispute that the swap occurred.
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“We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families,” the hospital said in a statement.
“While we deeply sympathize with the men and their families, we have found no evidence to support claims that Unity Medical Center or its staff were responsible for what occurred.”
Although both Bylin and Morrison have since met their respective biological parents, the two men have yet to meet each other in person.
“There are no plans in the works right now,” Morrison said. “I grew up with his entire family. And he grew up with my entire family,” he added, as the reason the two men “don’t feel like” they need to meet.
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Despite the legal battle and the lingering disruption to their lives, both men said they are focusing on moving forward and making the best of their circumstances.
“We’re just trying to raise awareness of this situation,” Bylin added.
