Our Team

My name is Lori Tirado. I was born and raised in New York and currently live on Long Island, NY. I’m a wife, mother of two sweet children and one adorable fur baby.

I’ve been an RN since 2006. I graduated with my BSN from Molloy College, and later with my MSN from Sacred Heart University. I have experience working in Cardiothoracic ICU, Surgical ICU, med/surg, stroke, and home infusion, but I spent most of my career in cardiology, my true passion. 

In 2018, I had my DNA surprise and learned via a DNA test that I was donor-conceived. I’ve been lucky enough to have met some of my new bio family and one of the most incredible facts that I discovered was that my biological great-grandfather was actually a world-renowned cardiologist. To understand where my passion for medicine came from – particularly that shared specialty in cardiology — has been so touching. 

My DNA discovery was traumatic and life-changing. The family that raised me was not forthcoming and lied to me for an additional four years after my discovery. All of the emotions tied to a discovery like this are overwhelming. It was an incredibly lonely time for me, and I never want anyone else to ever feel that they’re alone. I’m so grateful to have come across NPEN and I’m ready to help our NPE community. Follow my journey on Instagram: @journe2me

My name is Caroline J. Martin and I am a retired BSN, RN and graduated from Valparaiso University Summa Cum laude with my Bachelor’s in the Science and Art of Nursing.  I have worked in multiple hospital supervisory roles over several decades in my long career with expertise in pediatric nursing.   I found out several years ago that I am what is called an NPE (not parent expected) and have now turned my life altering discovery into power by volunteering at NPEN and mentoring those who are the throes of their own acute shock.  On a much lighter note, I am a grandmother to the best grandchildren in the world.

My name is LaTasha Jackson, and I have been a Registered Nurse for ten years. My focus specialties are Psychiatric and Geriatrics. I found out I was an NPE five years ago. Like many others, I suspected the man I was told was my father had no genetic connection to me. My primary reason for taking DNA tests was to confirm this suspicion. After my DNA surprise, my mother provided me with no help in learning the truth and at first, it fell to me to provide her with emotional support. 

In the immediate wake of my DNA surprise, my emotions were so overwhelming that I just shut down. Numbness became my way of life. I wasn’t able to cry or scream or achieve any other form of emotional release. When I questioned my family members, they all had different answers. My mother’s best friend had already passed so I could not ask her either.

Finally, I was blessed to find DNA Angels and they helped me search until the trail went cold — which did not take long. Fast forward to now: I still do not have answers to my most pressing questions and may never get any. Finding some sense of self and peace despite so much uncertainty has not been easy. I am still learning to hold hope and an acceptance of reality at the same time, knowing that I may never get the information I’m seeking. And yet, I would not trade this journey for anything. I have met so many beautiful people, and my family members on both sides have consistently let me know I am loved and accepted.

My name is Christy Hastings and I am a retired RN who specialized in hospice, home care and case management for catastrophic cases such as transplants, cancer, strokes and TBA’s who were in danger of maxing out their healthcare benefits and disability case management from 1985-2016 with some geriatric psych nursing as well.  

My alma maters were Milwaukee Area Technical College or MATC with an ADN in Nursing and RN obtained in 1985.  I obtained my BSM (BS Management) in 1999 from Upper Iowa University.  I discovered I was an NPE in August, 2022.  My BCF (birth certificate father) was not my BF (biological father).  Since then I have received much support from several NPE support groups I belong to. I have also found my BF’s family and am currently working on a cautious relationship with my half sister.  Other cousins and relatives will not communicate with me.  I would like to help other NPE’s find support and assistance during the NPE Journey as I did.

My name is RiahWillow, most people call me Riah (Rye-ah). I worked many years as a critical care nurse as well as a fill-in ER nurse. I let my license lapse many years ago when I decided to go back to school for a different focus in the mental health field. (and working in veterinary medicine part time to pay for school) Because my health took a turn for the worse my dreams were dashed and I barely made 3 years in my chosen “upgrade field” (as my kids call it.) after graduating. I am married, (20 years so far) I have 4 children 2 boys, and 2 girls. (One of each biological, one adopted who passed by suicide at 34,  one fostered to age out.) I was lucky to have been a foster child in a good home from 15-19, and I wanted to pay that forward. 

I am myself an NPE. I purchased my AncestryDNA kit to learn more about a beloved great-grandmother (who raised me from 0-14), only to upend my life. I understand the numb, gut-wrenching sadness, anger, feeling of loss, and not knowing if the world is up or down. I also understand the feeling that I must be weird because I felt nothing at times, and looking at a face in the mirror I no longer recognized. Grief is a funny beast. 

What I learned from my own experience has been all feelings are valid, not everyone grieves the same way, and there is no right or wrong way. I also learned that having a strong caring support system is invaluable. Sometimes turning to online support helps one to navigate their place in the world before they allow others in their daily lives into their deepest feelings that maybe others in their life are not ready to deal with themselves. 

Safe spaces are important spaces.

My name is Grace Fleming and I have been a Critical Care Nurse for over 17 years. I earned my ADN from Mercy College of Northwest Ohio. I have worked in Critical care, Home Health, EP Lab, and — most recently — Nursing Leadership. I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and I currently live in Ottawa Lake, MI. My beautiful family includes my husband, two children, three fur babies, and six beautiful grandchildren who call me Gigi.

I have worn various hats during my career as a Nurse. My driving purpose has always been to help others heal. At the age of 47, I experienced a DNA surprise while searching for more information about my mother’s family, as she was raised by foster parents. After months of testing, I got the life-altering news that the man who raised me was not my biological father. I now knew why I looked different from my three older sisters. My birth certificate father took the secret to his grave, and my mother never intended for me to find out.  

Needless to say, I was devastated and heartbroken. After working in the COVID ICU for 9 months, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I fell into a deep depression and suffered bouts of anxiety and PTSD. In reaching out for answers, I came across several different Facebook groups that showed me I was not as alone as I felt, even though my close friends and family could not relate to how I was feeling. Hearing, “What difference does it make, anyway?” and “You know your father loved you as his own!” did not bring me comfort at all. But finding others who understood what I was going through was a consolation and a balm. 

It’s still an ongoing struggle to deal with the decisions made by others that cost me so greatly. Dealing with rejection from my biological father and his family has not been easy, but I am determined to move forward – and this is where I hope to be able to help others. Because I understand the NPE experience so intimately, I hope to be a resource for those who are still reeling from their own discoveries. Though it’s been two years since my DNA surprise, I’m still on my own healing journey, and I’m looking forward to working alongside my fellow NPEs to continue healing ourselves and others. 
 

“I never chose to be conceived nor deceived.” — Grace Fleming 

My son bought me a “23 And Me” kit as a Mother’s Day gift. When the results came in, I sat at my table in shock. It turns out my mother had an Italian boyfriend she never mentioned. I also discovered that I have two sisters in Italy and a brother who was raised in Florida. My brother is just 28 days older than I am.  His mother was a waitress at my father’s restaurant. My sisters in Italy don’t speak English. I’ve tried to reach out to them but,so far, there has only been radio silence. They are on my social media but they don’t want anyone to know about my brother or myself yet. We are the dirty little secret: illegitimate children in the States. At least, I’ve become very close to my new brother Rick.

I’ve come to learn there are a lot of us out there: my NPE people. We need to tell our stories, and we also need to know that our trauma is universal. It is important for everyone to know that these secrets affect us deeply. We are all entitled to our truth, and our family histories are important.

When parents keep secrets of this nature, it affects generations of family members. We all have a right to know the truth about our heritage. Whatever problems were swept under rugs, avoiding them is never worth the identity crisis that each of us suffer. I don’t look anything like my other family members and never understood why. I had a deep feeling that I didn’t fit in with them but never could explain it. When I finally learned the truth, I was relieved on some level. It explained all of my feelings about my personality and my looks. DNA runs deep!

A child should not be raised within a family built on lies and deceptions. It messes with our sense of reality and belonging. I hope that by telling our stories here on this platform, we can help others to process their trauma. I know that as time goes by, many more people will learn of their families’ destructive secrets. We need to work toward the day that the truth is told to all children. If others can learn how much trauma these falsehoods create, then maybe we can stop the insanity.

 
Kelly (Grande) Walcott Majdick, RN

Formerly an ER specialist