Comparing themselves to the real life ‘Parent Trap’, two sisters from different sides of the world, have finally found each other after a lifetime of not knowing the other existed.
Heather Elrick-Tobin from London, UK, and Jaydah, from Miami, USA, discovered their sibling bond through Ancestry DNA tests, connecting them after being born to the same father but raised in completely different countries.
The sisters have been sharing their journey of finding each other and all of the incredible things they’ve been doing together since, to make up for lost time.
Heather said: “I grew up with my brothers, but Jaydah? I had no clue, I just thought, ‘Wow, a whole new sibling,’ and it felt like finding a missing puzzle piece.”
Jaydah said: “I always knew my dad was out there somewhere, but I was told he never knew about me, so I did the Ancestry test with the hope of maybe finding him, or some sort of connection.
“Then I saw that I had a match named Heather.”
Heather told how she took the ancestry test, curious about her ethnic background, and Jaydah searching for her father, the results were clear.
The two women were sisters, separated by the Atlantic but connected by blood.
Both sisters grew up in very different circumstances.
While Heather was raised in England, Jaydah spent her childhood in Miami, being born to the same father, but their mothers kept the existence of the other sibling a secret.
Their first meeting took place at a family reunion in Florida, where relatives from both the East and West Coasts of the USA gathered.
The sisters told how when they met, they instantly clicked, with it seeming like they had a natural bond.
Since reconnecting, the pair has spent plenty of time together, often traveling to visit one another and taking on fun activities like a trip to Disneyland.
With Heather recently relocating to Liverpool, UK, Jaydah has had another reason to visit and the two joke that their friends refer to them as ‘the twins’ because of their uncanny similarities.
Heather said: “It was instant. It was like we had known each other forever.”
“It didn’t even feel awkward. I just felt like I was meeting someone I had known all my life.
“My mum lived in America briefly and never told my dad she was pregnant with me; I think he had no idea. It was a complete surprise.”
Heather explained: “We’re so alike in everything we do, our mannerisms, the way we speak, even the foods we like!
“It’s like we’re twins, even though we’re not.
“I grew up as the only girl, so now I have a best friend and a sister all in one. It’s so special. And we’re always together—people know if they see one of us, they’ll see the other. It’s a package deal!”
Jaydah said: “It was nice to meet in a family setting, less pressure and more support.
“Everyone was cheering us on, which made it all the more special.
“We’ve been to Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, and LA. We’ve even been to Disneyland.
“We’re trying to make up for lost time.
“We joke that there might be more siblings out there, thanks to Ancestry, but for now, we’re happy with what we’ve got.
“We’re still making new memories every day, and I’m so happy to have Heather in my life. I feel like I’ve gained more than just a sister.
“I’ve gained a best friend.”