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| Last updated at 11:09 PM on 22/04/07 |
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Doug Green had all but given up hope of ever finding out information about his birth family. Next month, the 73-year-old from Shubenacadie will meet his five brothers and five sisters. Jason Malloy - Truro Daily News |
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Family tree is a mystery no more 
BY JASON MALLOY
The Truro Daily News
TRURO DAILY NEWS
SHUBENACADIE - Doug Green’s family just got a whole lot bigger and he couldn’t be happier.
The Shubenacadie native recently met brothers and sisters he never knew existed until a month ago.
“The first thing they did was stare and wonder who does he look like,” he said before admitting the hugs and kisses came first. “He’s got mom’s eye, he’s got mom’s nose” they said.
Green, now 73, was adopted as a child but didn’t have an “inkling” until his 30s when his sister, who was also adopted, stumbled upon the documents. Green said his adopted parents raised him as if he was their own child but there was always something missing in his life.
For years Doug, who was born Robert Gordon Post, tried to find out who his parents were but always ran into roadblocks of needing more information he didn’t have.
“I figured I was going to the grave never knowing anything,” said Doug, who lived in Truro for years before moving to Shubenacadie. “I had sort of given up and all of a sudden things changed.”
A neighbour, with an interest in genealogy, got involved and earlier this year a break through was made. She came up with 300+ possible relatives and fortunately turned up a cousin who put them in contact with one of Doug’s sisters.
“I was in shock,” he said recalling the first phone call. “I found out I had 10 siblings and they were all living. I was dumbfounded.”
The family ranges in age from 67 to 46 and includes five brothers and five sisters.
They are a very close family all living within 100 kilometres of one another in Ontario.
A few siblings came down during Easter and all 10 will be here in May for a family gathering.
Green’s new siblings never knew about his existence until about six weeks ago when an aunt let the secret out of the bag.
“They were going to start looking (for me) but I beat them to it,” he said.
Ironically, Green has a brother named Robert Paul.
“She insisted he be called Paul,” Green said of his mother. “They always thought it was strange.”
Not any more.
Doug and his wife Charlotte are looking forward to meeting all his new siblings.
“They’re so welcoming and down to earth... and they have hearts of gold,” she said. “They’re excited too, you can hear it in their voice.”
Doug still doesn’t know about his father’s family but for now he is content having the opportunity to meet his new siblings.
Doug’s main purpose for the search was to find out medical records to pass along to his own children but has gained so much more.
He encourages others not to give up their own search no matter how bleak the situation may appear.
jmalloy@trurodaily.com
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23/04/07
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