‘I Threw His Photo Away, But I Never Stopped Looking’ — and Found Her Father with a DNA Test

Angelina Ferchau, a young woman from Koblenz, Germany, never thought she would find her biological father. Born in a small village called Dan Buch, her childhood was filled with unanswered questions about her father, who was absent from her life. For years, she held on to a photo of him, but the search for him seemed hopeless — until she took a MyHeritage DNA test that led to an extraordinary discovery.

A childhood full of questions

Angelina grew up knowing that the man her mother was married to wasn’t her biological father. Her mother had conceived Angelina during a brief relationship with a man she worked with at a school cleaning job. However, her mother didn’t know much about him. All she had was a photograph.

“As a kid, it was clear to me that I had a different father,” Angelina recalls. “I don’t even remember a specific moment when I realized it. I just knew.”

Angelina as a child

One day, when she was out shopping with her mother and stepfather, who were both white, Angelina noticed people staring at them because of their obvious differences. She asked her mother why, and that’s when her mother admitted that her biological father was not her stepfather.

She gave Angelina the photo she had, and Angelina kept it, but the feelings of abandonment never left her. “One day, I just threw the picture in the trash. I thought, ‘Nobody cares for me, not even my dad.’ So why keep his photo?”

Dead ends and disappointment

As Angelina grew older, her curiosity about her father never waned. She repeatedly asked her mother for more information, but there was little to go on. Her mother couldn’t even remember his full name, and the company they worked for no longer existed. Any leads seemed impossible to follow.

“I was always like, okay, where do I start? Eventually, I gave up because I thought there’s no way I could find him,” Angelina explains.

Things took a turn when she moved to Berlin and began dating someone who suggested she try a DNA test to find her father. He bought her a MyHeritage DNA kit, offering hope for the first time in years.

“I took the test, but the results were disappointing at first,” says Angelina. “I didn’t get any significant matches, but at least I knew for sure my father was Nigerian.”

Despite the lack of immediate success, Angelina didn’t give up. Every time MyHeritage sent her an email with new matches, she eagerly checked, hoping for a breakthrough. For months, the results only brought distant relatives, but she kept hoping.

The breakthrough

Two months ago, Angelina’s patience was finally rewarded. She received an email from MyHeritage with a new DNA match: a half-first cousin. It was the closest match she had ever seen, and she immediately knew it had to be from her father’s side.

“When I saw that match, I knew instantly this was it. I contacted her immediately,” Angelina says.

Her half-cousin was from Koblenz — the same city where Angelina’s parents had met. As they exchanged more information, the connection became clear. Angelina learned that her cousin’s uncle had moved to Austria, which aligned with what her mother had told her about her father’s departure.

“When I mentioned that the last thing I knew about my father was that he went to Austria, she told me about her uncle who had lived there. It couldn’t be a coincidence.”

Soon after, the cousin’s uncle, who turned out to be Angelina’s biological father, contacted her. He confirmed that the details fit, and Angelina’s long search had finally ended.

The truth behind his absence

Angelina’s father explained that he had left Germany not because he didn’t want to be in her life, but because he didn’t have the proper visa allowing him to stay in the country. Forced to move to Austria, he lost contact with Angelina’s mother and didn’t know where to find her. “He knew he had a child somewhere, but he had to leave,” says Angelina.

Finally, after years of wondering, she had the answers she had been seeking. Not only had she found her father, but she also learned that she had 8 half-siblings!

A journey of discovery

This journey has not only reconnected Angelina with her father but also opened the door to a new chapter in her life. She now plans to visit Nigeria next year to meet her extended family and learn more about her Nigerian heritage.

“My mom is super happy for me,” Angelina shares. “I wasn’t sure how she would react, but she’s really supportive, even though she doesn’t want to meet him herself.”

Angelina admits that her emotions are still catching up with the reality of the situation. “I feel a little numb. I guess the real emotions will come when I see him in person. I’ve always had trouble expressing my feelings, but deep down, I always wanted to know who my dad was and why he wasn’t there when I was a child.”

The discovery that her father left because of visa issues provided a sense of closure for Angelina. “When I found out he had to leave because of his visa, it made sense. I thought, okay, that’s a reason I can understand.”

Looking forward

Angelina’s story is a testament to the power of persistence and the remarkable connections that can be made through DNA testing. Thanks to MyHeritage, she not only found her father but also discovered a large extended family she never knew existed.

At the end of October she finally met her father and siblings in person. She is filled with anticipation for what lies ahead. “I always wanted to find him,” she reflects, “and now it finally happened!”

Angelina Ferchau and her father, meeting for the first time, October 24. Credit: Angelina Ferchau

With plans to visit Nigeria and deepen her understanding of her roots, Angelina’s journey is just beginning. We wish her the best of luck and thank her for sharing her story with us!

If you’ve also made an incredible discovery with MyHeritage, we’d love to hear about it. Please share it with us via this form or email us at stories@myheritage.com.