‘My Christmas miracle’: Man meets his siblings after being adopted 75 years ago
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHAM) - An adopted man spent all 75 years of his life thinking he was an only child, only to discover he had several biological siblings waiting to welcome him to the family.
At 75, Dixon Handshaw has celebrated plenty of holidays, but he says this Christmas is one he will never forget. He was born in Buffalo, New York, then adopted and grew up in Elmira as an only child. In mid-August, he ordered his pre-adoption certificate, not knowing he had a whole family he was about to discover.
“All my life, I dreamed about having siblings somewhere,” Handshaw said. “This is my Christmas miracle. That’s what I call it.”
Handshaw met two of his biological brothers, Gary Romig and Jeff, and his biological sister, Wendy Gell, about 11 a.m. Friday at the airport in Rochester. The siblings say meeting for the first time felt like Christmas morning.
“It’s so special because he’s very emotional and excited and can’t believe that we are opening our arms to him and welcoming him to the family,” Gell said.
Handshaw says Romig is the first person in the family he called upon finding out he had siblings.
“My biggest hesitancy was I didn’t want to intrude on people. I didn’t know whether they would be happy that I was around or not,” he said.
Romig says he was eating lunch on the job when he got a phone call from a number he didn’t recognize.
“I hardly ever answer the phone if I don’t recognize the number, but for some reason, I answered it. He says, ‘Hi, my name’s Dixon. Are you Gary Romig?’ I said, ‘I am.’ He goes, ‘I’m your brother.’ And I’m like, ‘What?’”
Both men in shock, Handshaw sent Romig a picture of himself. Romig shared it with his five other siblings, and they immediately recognized their father’s features in Handshaw.
The newly reunited siblings are all thankful to be spending this holiday together as a family.
“I’m not gonna waste any time having this new family. I couldn’t be happier,” Handshaw said.
Handshaw was expected to meet other relatives over the holidays, greeting 55 new faces in total.
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