Alesia Weiss is a retired RN, Army veteran, meta NPE community leader, writer, and creator of the new resource center NPEN — as well as an NPE (Non-Paternity Event) herself. She co-founded two nonprofits in her pioneering work for NPEs and remains a leading advocate for those impacted by a DNA surprise. Her service on behalf of this community includes genealogical research, education, networking and the provision of informed emotional support.
Her own experience with an over-the-counter DNA kit in 2014 resulted in severe shock when she discovered that the man who’d raised her was not her genetic father. Learning the identity of her biological father took four long years of research, and the news that he’d passed away years before her discovery will always be a profound source of sorrow for her.
After connecting with her genetic family, she learned that four relatives had suffered from brain tumors much like her own. Had she known she had this genetic predisposition, her doctors could have diagnosed her tumor much sooner. Because of this, Alesia has worked hard to support NPEs, the donor-conceived community and adoptees in their fight to know their genetic history.