A mum who took a DNA test 'for fun' could never have never predicted the earth-shattering results that would change their lives forever.
Donna Johnson, 47, and her husband Vanner, also 47, took the genetic testing kits alongside their two children - Vanner Jr, 18, and their 12-year-old son Tim, reports the Mirror.
Donna explained that she had got the family to take the tests to find out more about their own unique heritage.
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However, when the results came back, the family were convinced that there had to have been a mistake. "Reading the DNA tests results online, I figured there had been a mistake," she wrote in The US Sun.
The results confirmed that Vanner was the father of their eldest boy, but the father of the youngest was unknown.
Donna was extremely confused about what these results meant, but then she claims she had a moment of "sickening clarity".
She realised there must have been a mix up at the IVF clinic. The couple from Utah met in high school and got married in 2003.
They had their oldest boy, Vanner Jr, and were excited to add to their family tree. However, hernia issues and surgery caused damage that made it impossible for the couple to conceive in a natural way.
So in 2007, they had their first round of IVF using Donna's eggs and Vanner's sperm.
The first round failed, but that same summer they tried again with more success. When Tim was born in August 2008, mum Donna said it "felt like a miracle".
The boys looked different, but it was brushed off as not too much of a big deal. Vanner Jr was described as having his dad's blue eyes and fair hair, while Tim had Donna's dark hair and was sportier.
While DNA testing at home has become more popular in recent years, the family decided they wanted to learn more about where they came from, and ordered the tests.
Six weeks later, the results came back and changed their lives forever. Donna said that their shock quickly turned into fear, as they wondered who Tim's biological dad actually was, and if he would appear to take their son away.
However, a lawyer reassured the couple that they'd remain Tim's legal parents, and wouldn't run into any issues.
Donna admitted that it was hard for her to watch Vanner come to terms with the fact that he wasn't Tim's biological dad - and while he didn't act any different, she could tell he was in shock.
As they came to terms with the news, Donna said she sank into depression and struggled to focus at work as a teacher.
Thanks to a counsellor, the couple worked through the revelation and they decided to tell Tim the truth when he turned 12, as they felt it would be worse for him to find out as an adult.
So, in October 2020, Vanner took Tim out for ice cream to break the news that he wasn't his biological dad. Donna said she wrapped her youngest boy up in a hug when they got back, and told him how much they all loved him.
Donna noted that Tim was quiet, but said he loved them too. Husband Vanner told his wife how the conversation had went - that it had taken Tim a few seconds to process the news.
However he made a simple comment that he wished he knew how he would've looked with Vanner's genes. Donna explained that Tim handled it with "such maturity" as did his older brother.
A few weeks later, Tim told his parents he wanted to track down his biological father.
Despite supporting their son, the couple were worried about what might happen - but they ordered another DNA test to track down his biological dad.
They used a different company, who helped them track down a woman they thought could be Tim's biological aunt.
After some more investigating, they found a blog written by the woman's brother, a man called Devin McNeil who lived in Colorado, eight hours from the family.
They found his phone number, but knew that calling it could change their lives forever - but went ahead with it in March 2021.
Vanner spoke to Devin, 47, on the phone, and while he had been skeptical initially, he agreed to a DNA test.
Donna noted that they all spoke on FaceTime with Devin and his wife Kelly, 46 - and it was an anxious time for everyone.
However, she noted that the couple were lovely, and accepted that Donna and Vanner weren't asking them for anything.
The two couples agreed that there'd be no custody battle, as it was assumed that Vanner was also Tim's dad - but they agreed to find out what had happened.
It had turned out that both couples had been at the same IVF clinic on the same day, for two different treatments. Donna had gone in for egg retrieval, while Kelly went for embryo implantation for her eldest son, Talon.
DNA tests confirmed Devin was Tim's dad, as well as Talon's meaning the sperm samples hadn't been swapped, but instead Devin's had somehow been used for both.
The families met up in June 2021, with Donna saying how "surreal" it was hugging a stranger she'd "made a baby with" - but the children got along so well with Devin's kids that her anxiety eased.
Before they left, Vanner asked Tim if he'd like to get a photo with Devin - to which Tim replied he wanted both his dad in the picture. Donna recalled she nearly cried.
The families keep in touch with regular calls, texts and video chats, and have met up several times since. They settled out of court with the clinic in 2022.
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