For those curious about their ancestry, a DNA test is a great way to learn a little more about their heritage or to get a glimpse of where they come from. But sometimes, the results can do far more than satisfy curiosity and a simple test can uncover long-lost family, answer lifelong questions and change lives.
That’s what happened to Rachel Rollinson, a woman from London who was abandoned as a baby in Hong Kong and adopted by a British family. Decades later, a DNA test kit from MyHeritage DNA brought her face-to-face with the mother and siblings she never expected to find.
Rachel was delighted to be reunited with her mother after many years (Image: MyHeritage Blog)
Rachel was born in Hong Kong in December 1963, during a period of struggle for many families. At ten months old, she was discovered deserted on a hillside and taken to a children’s home. At two and a half years old, Rachel was adopted by a British family in London, a couple who already had two sons and another adopted girl from Hong Kong, reports MyLondon.
Despite having a ‘very British’ upbringing, Rollinson says her mum ensured they celebrated Chinese New Year and cooked Chinese food herself, but she never felt Chinese. “Growing up, my parents were always open about my origins. We had a very British upbringing – violin lessons, walks on Wimbledon Common, home-cooked meals.
“My mother, a nurse, embraced our heritage in small ways: we celebrated Chinese New Year with symbolic gifts and Chinese food she cooked herself. Most of what I learned about Chinese culture came from watching TV programs and observing, rather than any formal traditions,” she says.
As the years went by, Rollinson also pursued nursing, met her spouse and brought up three daughters. She added: “Becoming a mother myself stirred up a new layer of questions – how could my own mother have coped with letting me go?”
In 2015, she returned to Hong Kong alongside a group of adoptees and secured her adoption records, which contained details of her clothes as an infant but no names. She then started exploring DNA testing, but for years the results only revealed distant relatives – until she uploaded her data to MyHeritage DNA in 2022.
That summer, Rachel was matched with a first cousin in the UK, who was also searching for lost family. When he shared a photo of his aunt, Rachel froze.
“She looked just like me. I showed it to my husband and he simply said, ‘That’s you.’ With his assistance, Rachel discovered her birth mother still residing in Hong Kong, thanks to MyHeritage.
She added: “Suddenly, I had eight full siblings, countless nieces and nephews, and a stream of messages and photos that left my head spinning. Thankfully, some of the younger family members spoke English, and a wonderful woman named Winnie Davies – who had helped other adoptees – stepped in to guide me through the process.”
‘My journey has taught me that what’s meant to be will find its way’ (Image: MyHeritage Blog)
Through dialogue and becoming acquainted with her relatives, Rachel discovered the reality behind her abandonment, which provided her with closure. “I’ve never felt bitterness,” she writes.
“My journey has taught me that what’s meant to be will find its way. I’ve found peace, understanding – and most of all, I’ve found my family.”
She continued: “My mother told me the truth about my abandonment. After three sons, I was the first daughter. The family was in deep poverty, and when they turned to a Taoist temple for guidance, they were told I was a bad omen – a threat to the family’s fortune. The decision was agonising. A third party carried out the abandonment, leaving my parents with no way to find me again.”
This story includes numerous links and was originally written for the MyHeritage DNA website. I excerpted the article to focus on Rachel’s story.
Transnational /Transcultural Adoption Project 