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.
They含羞草研究社檇 say hello to each other, talk about the weather and give attention to Davison含羞草研究社檚 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, 含羞草研究社淪issy, we need to talk.含羞草研究社�
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 Davison含羞草研究社檚 life forever.
含羞草研究社淪issy, this is our sister,含羞草研究社� she said.
It was during that conversation when it was revealed that Davison含羞草研究社檚 niece had submitted her DNA for ancestry research and made a number of remarkable discoveries. Davison含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淲e did recognize each other and I just kind of said, 含羞草研究社楬i, nice to meet you,含羞草研究社� 含羞草研究社� Shayna said, laughing as she recalled the unique introduction. 含羞草研究社淲e instantly noticed we had a lot in common, we like the same music, we both love animals and to laugh at our sisters. We含羞草研究社檝e only known each other for a few weeks but we are already finishing each other含羞草研究社檚 sentences.含羞草研究社�
They went on to discover their father had three children apiece with their mothers. Shayna含羞草研究社檚 full siblings are Katrina and April, Beth含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淣ow I feel like I含羞草研究社檓 not so alone anymore because I can pick up the phone now and call my sister anytime,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e become very close, very fast.含羞草研究社�
Shayna agreed and said it含羞草研究社檚 given her a better understanding of herself.
含羞草研究社淔or me a circle has been fulfilled because I含羞草研究社檝e always wondered about my father,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 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.含羞草研究社�
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 Beth含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 been all sorts of bad news with the pandemic and for us to come across each other it含羞草研究社檚 been such good news for us,含羞草研究社� Shayna said. 含羞草研究社淚 feel really happy that the during the pandemic this research was done and I feel like my family is finally completed.含羞草研究社�
