For years, Shayna Davison would go on a daily walk from her home at the Blue Ridge apartments on Tessaro Crescent in Abbotsford.
On those regular strolls, Davison would pass by a neighbouring house and engage in small talk with a friendly woman who resided there.
Theysa国际传媒檇 say hello to each other, talk about the weather and give attention to Davisonsa国际传媒檚 dog.
Both women told The News that something drew them to each other on those chance encounters, a sense of closeness seemed to naturally occur between the pair, but it was never anything more than two acquaintances briefly chatting.
Years later as a pandemic raged on and COVID-19 forced many people into their homes, Davison received a Facebook message from her older sister saying, sa国际传媒淪issy, we need to talk.sa国际传媒�
Moments later Davison entered a FaceTime chat with her sister and another woman, who she quickly recognized as the same person she would encounter on Tessaro Crescent. What her sister said next changed Davisonsa国际传媒檚 life forever.
sa国际传媒淪issy, this is our sister,sa国际传媒� she said.
It was during that conversation when it was revealed that Davisonsa国际传媒檚 niece had submitted her DNA for ancestry research and made a number of remarkable discoveries. Davisonsa国际传媒檚 father had an entire separate family and had children with another woman before meeting their mother.
Davison and her sisters had never known they had three other half-sisters - one of whom was Beth Davison - the very same woman that she had interacted with so many years ago on Tessaro Crescent. Neither Beth nor Shayna had any idea their new half-sister had lived in the same city for so many years, or that they had spoken many times before.
sa国际传媒淲e did recognize each other and I just kind of said, sa国际传媒楬i, nice to meet you,sa国际传媒� sa国际传媒� Shayna said, laughing as she recalled the unique introduction. sa国际传媒淲e instantly noticed we had a lot in common, we like the same music, we both love animals and to laugh at our sisters. Wesa国际传媒檝e only known each other for a few weeks but we are already finishing each othersa国际传媒檚 sentences.sa国际传媒�
They went on to discover their father had three children apiece with their mothers. Shaynasa国际传媒檚 full siblings are Katrina and April, Bethsa国际传媒檚 are Rosemary and Brenda. Unfortunately both Brenda and April have passed away. Katrina is now located in St. Catharines, Ont. and Rosemary is in Saskatoon, Sask.
Their father is no longer in any of their lives and the pair believe he may have other children spread out across the country. According to the sisters their father was married at least five times.
Beth said the discovery of her new siblings has brought more meaning to her life.
sa国际传媒淣ow I feel like Isa国际传媒檓 not so alone anymore because I can pick up the phone now and call my sister anytime,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檝e become very close, very fast.sa国际传媒�
Shayna agreed and said itsa国际传媒檚 given her a better understanding of herself.
sa国际传媒淔or me a circle has been fulfilled because Isa国际传媒檝e always wondered about my father,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚 knew he was married before because my mother had told me so I always wondered if there were older siblings out there. It made me feel not so alone anymore. Like she said I can now pick up the phone and talk to her anytime.sa国际传媒�
A full reunion of the four living sisters is planned for Abbotsford on Sunday, Aug. 15. Rosemary and Katrina, along with many other family members from both sides of the family are gathering at Bethsa国际传媒檚 house. More activities are planned for Monday, Aug. 16.
Both sisters stated that this discovery was a bright light in what has been a terrible time for so many living through the pandemic and it was all thanks to technology that the connection could be made.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 been all sorts of bad news with the pandemic and for us to come across each other itsa国际传媒檚 been such good news for us,sa国际传媒� Shayna said. sa国际传媒淚 feel really happy that the during the pandemic this research was done and I feel like my family is finally completed.sa国际传媒�
