Awesome - DNA Test Reveals Uncomfortable Truth About Woman's Husband
Liane Kupferberg Carter, like anyone sending a saliva sample to 23andMe, was eager to learn more about her heritage, but also fairly certain that she knew what to expect. Maybe her results would indicate a surprise bit of national heritage. But when Liane and her husband paged through their respective results, the two looked at each other with horror.
An Inspired Author
Liane Kupferberg Carter knows a thing or two about the effects of genetics. She's an award-winning author who penned a touching memoir called Ketchup Is My Favorite Vegetable: A Family Grows Up With Autism. She owed that inspiration to her son.
A Hard Truth
As a young parent, she thought it was odd that her son, Mickey, wasn't speaking for the first few years of his life. After taking him for a comprehensive evaluation from a doctor, Liane learned a hard truth. Mickey suffered from autism.
Autism Awareness Advocate
Of course, like any loving parent, Liane refused to let her son's disability define him. Raising a child with autism certainly had its hurdles, but it also led Liane into the world of autism awareness.
Making A Name For Herself
She began attending lectures and soon carved out quite the name for herself, even speaking on panels about her experiences. But, none of her efforts were possible without immense help from her husband Marc.
38 Years Strong
Liane and Marc were married for 38 years, and their love grew stronger with every day that passed. As remarkable as their bond was, it was the story of how they met that truly had people floored.
The Pangs Of LOve
The two were both in their twenties on a Club Med vacation in the Bahamas when the pangs of Cupid's arrow struck. They quickly hit it off, and then soon realized they actually lived one block away from each other in Manhattan!
She Was The One
Once they returned back to the states, the two were inseparable. It only took Marc two weeks of dating to know Liane was the one, and he asked her to marry him underneath a vibrant sky of fireworks.
Starting A Life Together
Their relationship seemed like something straight out of a romance movie. They were two souls meant to meet on that vacation, and once they wed and settled down together, they started a family.
The Complete Smiling Package
They had two boys together, Jonathan and Mickey. Once Mickey was diagnosed with autism, the whole family came together to ensure he lived the most fulfilling life possible. The Carter family was the complete smiling package.
Taking The Genetic Plunge
For years, Liane was always curious about her genetic makeup, especially since she had a son with autism. So, she and Marc took the mysterious plunge into the world of genomic companies.
An Eager Swab
They opted for 23andMe, a reputable brand that helped thousands of people discover more about their ancestry. The couple swabbed their mouths and sent in the samples, eager to see what results they'd receive.
Hoping For More Similarities
Naturally, Liane and Marc couldn't wait to get the tests back. As close as they were, they hoped to find out even more similarities, if possible. However, when the results finally came in, the couple was stunned.
Startling Results
They stared at the documents in disbelief. According to 23andMe, Liane and Marc were third cousins! No one expected this kind of a revelation, especially their son Jonathan, who suggested the test weeks earlier.
Taking It In Stride
Their 30-year-old son was completely unsure of how to react to the startling news. "I don’t know how I feel about this. Do I need to get genetic counseling?" Jonathan asked. However, Liana and her husband took it all in stride.
"You're My Cousin-Husband"
Whereas some couples might not handle the news well, this couple found the humor! Liane would say, "You’re my cousin-husband," to which Marc would always jokingly reply, "Better than being a sister-wife." Liane also shared the news on Facebook.
Facebook Responds
She created the hashtag #OurForbiddenLove, and within just a few hours her friends were liking the post and leaving baffled comments like, "No freakin’ way!" and "How is that possible?" Some even drew interesting parallels.
Drawing Parallels To Royalty
One person reminded them their distant-cousin relationship was just like the those of the Roosevelts, or better yet, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II! Not long after breaking the news, Liane's friend sent her a fascinating article shedding light on the situation.
Stirring Up More Excitement
Both partners were of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, an ethnic group that came about during the Middle Ages. Members rarely married outside of the culture, which meant descendants shared more DNA than average. The article stirred up even more excited wonderment in the couple.
Basking In The Revelation
Liane and Marc are still unsure whether or not they actually share a set of great-great-grandparents, but they bask in the crazy 23andMe revelation every day. However, not every genetic discovery made through these companies is something to brag about.
Family Problems
Liane and her husband sure didn't envy Denice Juneski. All her life, the 72-year-old never fit in with her family. She was the only blonde in a brood of brunettes and redheads, and found she wasn't in the same ballpark as the rest of them when it came to athleticism.
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