23:59:59

Support for This American Life. Comes from Capital One auto Navigator where you can find a car, get pre-qualified instantly and see your real monthly payment without impacting your credit score Capital. One, what's in your wallet terms and conditions? Apply. Find out more at capitalone.com auto Navigator. Back in nineteen ninety for this,

0:22

back in the days when people still delivered big news to

0:24

each other by mail to

0:26

women, who barely knew each other, Martha, Miller and

0:28

Susan McDonald. I got a letter from

0:30

Martha Mom.

0:31

Dear Martha and so have you ever

0:33

suspected or been told that

0:35

we took home the baby that belonged to K

0:37

and Bob McDonnell? And

0:39

they later took home the baby that belong

0:42

to us. That might be reading.

0:44

The purposes of this letter is that Mrs Miller is

0:46

breaking the news forty three years after

0:48

the fact the Martha ensue that

0:51

she took the wrong baby home from the hospital.

0:53

Am I didn't see was switched at birth? The

0:55

not Martha's biological mom. He

0:58

says. And. Whatever makes it so

1:00

strange is that this wasn't the sort of thing where Mrs. Miller

1:02

figured this out there surprise after decades

1:05

of wondering and pondering and painstaking

1:07

detective work no. No, no, she knew it the

1:09

day she got home from the hospital in

1:11

nineteen fifty one. That you had

1:13

the wrong baby. The baby born to

1:15

women and came at Donald. Get

1:17

be quiet all those years. Here

1:20

is how it Ms Miller explained that

1:22

in the letter the. other daughter in

1:24

this baby switch sue who

1:26

was born to mrs miller the when writing

1:28

the latter The raised by came

1:30

down on the other woman. The

1:34

complaint.

1:35

Caesar so was asleep when our baby was

1:37

born the nurse way the baby

1:39

and must have left her in the delivery room until

1:42

after case baby was born very

1:44

soon after mine when.

1:46

we took her baby home she sneezed

1:48

five times in a row Again,

1:50

my the miller. The now goes by Marty.

1:53

Once was the baby, whose niece five times and around.

1:56

I thought that was strange, never had

1:58

that happen with. Any over

2:00

others we, had baby scale

2:03

at home? when i weighed the baby

2:05

she weighed two and a half pounds less

2:08

than her birth weight

2:09

I was sure them that there had been a mix

2:12

up I, talked to Norbert about

2:14

it but he did not want disgrace

2:16

are good doctor desolate. desolate

2:18

week or so after the baby's birth i

2:20

was reaching for something way back something the

2:22

attic closet and started to hemorrhage

2:25

Then went into convulsions. Back

2:27

to the hospital for several days and

2:30

despair for my life. So

2:32

I drop them except maybe pursuit.

2:36

Martha grew she did not look

2:38

nor acts like any other children

2:41

she, was a delight to all of us so

2:43

pretty so photogenic so

2:46

for The of life.

2:50

Our other children were very. The

2:52

area it. Martha

2:54

excelled in music was

2:56

a good. The cheerleader at school very

2:59

popular and blonde. Or

3:01

other children had dark hair. In

3:05

all needed glasses for near

3:07

sighted mess. Martha did not

3:09

need glasses.

3:11

Finally on July tenth nineteen

3:13

ninety four Norbert was willing to go

3:15

to K and Bob mcdonnell sister's wedding

3:18

anniversary celebration at Played is

3:20

seen United Methodist Church when,

3:23

he saw you so he said. said

3:25

don't need a dna test psu

3:27

is hours she looks just like mary

3:30

lydia would make lydia good twin tour

3:33

That is why I wanted to write this letter,

3:35

so now we are both aware

3:38

of what happened. Forty

3:40

three years ago. We love

3:42

you, Martha jail.

3:46

Right? We

3:49

love you, Martha, team as dearly as. Others,

3:52

six children. The

3:55

think you know that you will always be

3:58

our daughter. But I

4:00

thought each of you should know your biological

4:03

and spiritual backgrounds and,

4:05

know you have mixed feelings about this

4:07

revelation this have much

4:10

english and many tears

4:13

That I feel must get this out in the open

4:15

so you to know how. wonderful

4:18

that you both are christians and blight workers

4:20

in the church Let

4:23

me hear from you. Love you both thanks.

4:26

and jesus lead you in this time happy

4:29

forty third birthday to you soon

4:31

And you, Martha. Having

4:33

me your mom, Mary Kay Miller.

4:42

Though that is when you're probably wondering

4:44

why in the world didn't Mrs. Miller straighten

4:47

this out quicker. Why did

4:49

you listen to her husband back in Nineteen that the one

4:51

why the be concerned about disgrace in the doctor

4:54

over? You know? Having

4:56

the wrong baby? And

4:59

as you heard in the letter, one thing that makes whole

5:01

thing even stranger is that the two couples

5:03

knew each other. The Millers were

5:05

at the McDonalds anniversary party, their

5:07

mutual acquaintances. To go to shore drive

5:10

from each other's How was he got?

5:12

Pretty Chien, Wisconsin? Another.

5:15

Finally, let everybody know the truth long

5:17

after both girls were grown up with Children

5:19

of Their It was disruptive. That

5:22

is the kind of news. Nobody ever wants to hear

5:24

when you get this kind of

5:26

news is an adult that

5:28

your mom isn't really your mom. Or

5:30

your daughter, isn't really your daughter and

5:33

the same time. You have a new mom, our

5:35

new daughter. It is not so

5:37

clear. What you're supposed to do with this new parent

5:39

under child is now in your life.

5:41

What do you supposed to be? with

5:43

each other? They might

5:45

ensue worry that the families that always thought were there's

5:48

still want to keep them and,

5:50

both mothers and daughters each had to figure it out on their own

5:53

off for women said means get very lonely

5:55

for them. to the inertia we

5:57

hear what happens in somebody's take your family and

5:59

throws The up in the air like deck of cards that,

6:02

BBC Chicago this American life I'm

6:05

Ira Glass. would have any the full hour

6:07

delay the what happened to these two families said

6:09

halpern is the reporter v shows reruns

6:12

that honestly one of the best as we are done

6:15

And before, it died just

6:17

have you keep everybody straighten this story A

6:19

quick overview of the two families.

6:22

The millers or the bespectacled dark

6:24

haired ones from a letter. There's memories, husband

6:26

or every Norbert Miller was an evangelical

6:29

preacher. Modi to the church,

6:31

and they were a book, serious bunch. The

6:34

house with lot of rules and the robotic

6:36

kids to seven kids and all.

6:39

The McDonald's or the white haired one single letter,

6:41

and it was a much smaller family, just two

6:43

kids. Anything in the house is very

6:45

different from the feeling in the Miller's house, they

6:47

were easy going quick to laugh and joke

6:49

around. McDonnell when TV

6:51

repair shop in town. Recovery.

6:55

It was the for women at the center of all this

6:57

the two moms and the two daughters who

6:59

are affected more than any one. The

7:01

let's take them one by one starting with Su.

7:04

Mrs Miller's baby, he was raised by the

7:06

McDonalds. The

7:09

for the letter arrived, Sachs's whose life

7:11

and seem pretty orderly.

7:13

She was a married mother of three living in Michigan,

7:15

her husband worked as chemist. He

7:17

was poster, mother she called and visited her

7:19

parents regularly, she also had an

7:21

older brother, Bob, named after their dad.

7:24

The are pretty straightforward. And

7:26

yes, she was different for the rest of the family,

7:28

in certain ways dark and tall

7:30

and skinny and family that was none of those. In

7:33

pretty light hard household, she was nervous,

7:35

studious serious. The

7:37

i didn't seem so strange. In junior

7:40

high, I remember my friends said

7:42

to me.

7:43

You must be adopted because you do not

7:45

look at all like your parents are. Then

7:48

I said. don't know

7:50

you know asked my mother, said, "Am adopted

7:53

and she said, oh no, she says

7:55

was pregnant and you are my child, wanted

7:58

a baby and Allen and year" Maybe

8:00

you know you were not adopted. So

8:02

that convinced you. Oh

8:05

yeah that was new the mean see

8:07

that was right my, mom's our

8:09

you just take after great grandpa this

8:12

earth and so and so were

8:14

you know. so then i just forgot

8:17

about the whole thing

8:25

Years. Later when she got the letter that told her the truth

8:28

she was stunned and, she knew she had

8:30

to break the news to the McDonalds had raised her,

8:33

but. She didn't call them right, away Mr

8:35

MacDonald had a bad heart and she didn't know what

8:37

the stress would do, to him for

8:39

she wanted to be absolutely sure. it was true

8:42

blood tests were done with the millers and they prove

8:44

mrs miller was right about the switch Weeks

8:47

went by and so began to fret she.

8:50

wrote letters to parents but didn't send them she

8:53

worried her mother might reject her Sooner

8:55

or mother had never been big fan of the millers ever

8:58

since they met. The now suddenly.

9:00

The turned out she was one of them.

9:02

It was confusing and then, after I knew

9:05

that they were. That

9:07

had been switched and that had. Different

9:10

machines and my parents kept talking about

9:12

these people that were so odd.

9:15

The millers the because. The

9:18

Reverend Miller.

9:21

He is an evangelical preacher,

9:23

you know, he wants people than oh Jesus

9:26

Christ and that they would be saved. Then

9:29

and I'm really like that, too.

9:33

humble more mobile home, a little hello

9:35

ago.

9:37

I'm really a miller, you know what does she

9:39

think of me? Mean

9:42

that my biological family.

9:48

He's

9:51

gonna know that's not my daughter and she's gonna

9:53

and she's gonna get this popular Marty

9:55

who is so fun loving and and.

9:58

looks like her and then she's

10:00

Gonna say why don't need that daughter

10:02

anymore, you know she's. Part of an odd

10:04

family it.

10:13

A month after she got the letter she went to see

10:15

or biological mother and father this

10:17

is a videotape of that first meeting I.

10:20

know i they sleep on ah yes

10:22

He found was that any kind of my is if your

10:24

dad, my dad raised the I have

10:26

officially.

10:26

Happy forever Miller is affectionate

10:28

with her putting his arm around her with everybody.

10:31

smiling

10:33

So now had for new sisters and to new

10:35

brothers and the Miller Shore pictures

10:37

of or other relatives he's Ross about

10:39

either way to Oregon give away from

10:41

us got a girl, Trump says there's.

10:46

lot of nervous laughter and there are some awkward

10:48

moments like when sue talked to mister

10:50

miller about the fact that she never got enough breast

10:52

milk is baby My mother

10:54

didn't have enough for me.

10:58

Your little.

11:02

brother miller's seem ditty that their daughter is finally

11:04

come home

11:05

And she seems eager to know them so,

11:08

yeah for nice thinking, and you

11:10

so much,. like carol

11:13

later that same day su drove to the mcdonalds

11:16

to the parents she'd grown up with After

11:19

dinner, she sat down and told them about Mrs

11:21

Miller's is letter Hold on point blank,

11:23

she wasn't their child. The

11:25

first, the refuse to believe her. Then

11:28

she told them about the blood tests.

11:30

Finally, two handed overall letters that she hadn't

11:32

sent them in the past month. Letters

11:35

telling them how much he loved them and how much he

11:37

wanted to stay there, daughter.

11:38

And like my dad said, you know, you are

11:40

my child, I changed your diaper and my

11:42

mother since nothing was gonna be different.

11:45

Between us. That was just

11:47

it took a while for us to. How

11:49

are you gonna think? Mrs

11:52

Miller has for forty three years been

11:54

longing to see her. The child she

11:56

gave birth to she's excited

11:58

about it. And my mom. Like

12:00

what happened to my life, it exploded.

12:03

This is come down to kinda to conclusions.

12:07

One she wasn't going to become strange from her

12:09

mother. And to. It

12:11

was your brother she might lose.

12:13

My name is Bob McDonald

12:16

and I am sixty

12:18

one years old I,

12:20

would say their town as

12:23

Zoo and were probably not

12:25

that close arm. for

12:28

whatever reason The reason was pretty

12:30

simple, actually. The have almost

12:32

nothing in common. That is

12:34

for and a half years older than Su.

12:36

Sweet job, your guy who never got along with

12:38

his broody little sister. And

12:40

when bad found out about Marty. That

12:43

the she was his biological sister.

12:45

He called her right away in California when

12:47

she get on the phone I. was

12:50

is totally blown away

12:52

The way she pronounced her

12:54

words were identical with

12:56

the way my mother talked and,

12:58

she could have been my and. or

13:01

my mother talking on mother phone

13:04

And I knew that, she had to be

13:06

my sister, and

13:08

was the was super anxious to

13:11

meet her hand in, person.

13:14

and down until about

13:17

time we just talked all the time

13:20

With every phone call that we made in

13:22

our we opened up our to each

13:24

other and and, we had the same

13:26

personality and least it would think so much

13:29

alike My

13:31

brother or.

13:33

Marty are just like thick

13:35

as thieves in what seems like and

13:37

whenever Marty comes true.

13:40

My hometown, she stays of my brother, and

13:42

they stepped on our all hours of the night

13:44

talking.

13:46

Pursue her brother's enthusiasm for

13:48

Marty brought out every and security

13:50

she suffered as a school girl. He

13:52

didn't fit in, she didn't have the socially

13:54

that came so naturally the Bob and Marty.

13:57

He was popular. And I

13:59

wasn't, was like a.

14:00

There is person nobody would dance with me

14:02

as the dances and I, you know, I

14:04

want he had a band, I mean. was

14:07

shy or was whatever. And

14:11

wanted to be a cheerleader I tried out for

14:13

tuning, just couldn't do it in and get

14:15

picked.

14:17

As years went by when they were family events

14:20

with every one sued get anxious if

14:22

Marty was there too. Occasionally

14:24

should break down and cry. I remember

14:27

as a wedding. In my nephew that

14:29

married.

14:30

My brother dance with everybody, he dances,

14:32

Marty, and you can see their to seven so much

14:35

fun and laughing together and just

14:37

fans and away, and then he dances my cousin

14:40

he danced with. My mother, he

14:42

dances, and he didn't answer me.

14:44

And here I am, you know it's like I'm a teenager

14:46

gonna know what he dances the me it.

14:49

was bad

14:52

That a damn good part about that was

14:54

when I got home from the wedding and

14:57

my brother called me and said.

14:59

You know what I did in advance as you and,

15:02

i said who told you told say the has so

15:04

he did know what to But

15:07

it just not feeling that the

15:09

op. Rami

15:12

again.

15:14

And, you know, because I wonder what's gonna happen when my parents

15:16

are gone, is my brother gonna care to even

15:18

see me and him?

15:28

This brings us to Marty, the other baby in

15:30

this baby switch.

15:32

Before she found out the truth about who her mother really

15:34

was parties life wasn't all that

15:36

different from Sues Rt.

15:38

was also married also had three kids

15:41

It also moved out of Wisconsin and her case

15:43

to Southern California. That's

15:46

a religious like Su. That's

15:48

pretty much where it ends. Marty

15:50

worked all of her adult life and still does as nurse.

15:53

He grew up as the six child and family of seven

15:56

kids. The sides are there

15:58

is Mary Lydia Faith. Sunny,

16:01

Luke and Esther. Her

16:03

mother ran disciplined household everyone

16:05

had to work. He remembers washing

16:07

and drying all the dishes by the time she was five

16:09

or six. There wasn't much money

16:11

around the five girl shared one bedroom.

16:15

The church with the center of their lives in the family

16:17

and never went on vacation or even to the movies.

16:20

They said they were also to paint and encouraged

16:22

to play music. Like

16:24

pseudo Marty stuck out and her family. The

16:27

one thing she was the only one who joked around,

16:29

she says, even now the millers can tell when she's

16:31

being ironic. Then

16:33

there is the blindness and the perkiness in the socializing.

16:37

Right, he says, she felt like everything she was interested

16:39

in was lost on her parents.

16:41

Then I don't think that they ever came to

16:43

watch, mean cheer. And

16:46

a game. That

16:48

wasn't something that they would have done because athletics

16:50

was really not a value to them. At

16:53

all.

16:54

I was just not ever meeting their expectation

16:58

of intellectual Islam.

17:01

And my mother has told me since

17:04

then you. know you

17:07

i really didn't expect that much

17:09

from you Because

17:11

I knew that you want our child. That

17:15

was a hard thing the here.

17:24

incredibly when Marty was twenty one years old

17:27

someone actually told her that she might not be a Miller

17:30

one, of her older sisters Ruth came to visit

17:32

with her husband Rudy. rudy

17:34

at couple of beers and after dinner he got to

17:37

talking

17:37

And he started, asking

17:39

me what I knew about the McDonalds,

17:43

and really didn't know anything

17:45

about the. mcdonalds and then

17:47

he told me that i looked

17:49

like them And

17:51

he said what would you do if I told you

17:54

that? they were your parents And

17:57

I. was kind of stunned,

17:59

it was. First they had ever heard anything

18:01

about it and, He

18:04

did, in fact, say. them

18:07

are hurtful. Does

18:10

he told me you know I don't care what anybody

18:12

says from as far as I'm concerned

18:14

you're not really roof sister? thought

18:18

it was just. Rudy be and Rudy in.

18:21

l Then you have crazy ideas

18:24

and. The dream these things

18:26

up. I was just horrified.

18:29

In in, he didn't tell me how to time. The

18:32

just came out with it. That's

18:34

rude.

18:35

She and Faith and Mary Lydia, the older girls

18:37

had sort always known about the possibility

18:39

that Marty wasn't their biological sister. The

18:42

couple of them, including Ruth, had vague

18:44

memories of their parents talking about it after they brought

18:46

Marty home from the hospital. That

18:49

had his baby look different for Mrs Miller's other babies.

18:51

That maybe this baby it'and and switched. them

18:55

and Ruth was about sixteen, her older sister

18:57

Faith came home from a trip on Mississippi River

18:59

boat. The told me she'd seen Sue

19:01

McDonald on the boat. Then she

19:03

looks an awful lot like them. They

19:05

decided that Ruth thought to have look, too. Then

19:08

the two girls cooked up reconnaissance mission.

19:11

One Sunday they got their boyfriends dry them seventy

19:13

miles away. At the McDonald's Church

19:15

and Periods Machine. Sat

19:18

down in pew near the front next to say.

19:20

Right before the service began she.

19:23

says There's Sioux walking

19:25

down the center aisle. Then

19:28

I thought she

19:30

even walks like marry in.

19:32

eyelids i was just like wow you

19:35

know While there could be that

19:37

could be heard, that could be my sister. And

19:41

he, I think it might be. And

19:43

at any point during this time.

19:45

There's a crush I'm well why don't we just ask

19:47

Mom and Dad about this nope?

19:53

That's another family worked. They

19:55

just didn't talk about these kinds of things and,

19:58

as ruth and faith saw faith wasn't there The

20:00

mess in their parent's affairs which,

20:03

is why when her husband Rudy blurted it out

20:05

a few years later with the so shocked.

20:07

and morty

20:09

The refused to believe it at that point she.

20:12

denies she says

20:15

Is it true you, know? so

20:19

The than I thought well okay.

20:21

and it's not so bad is she in

20:23

on she still believes she's my sister that

20:26

Good the, next week so

20:28

when Marty was visiting their mom Mrs Miller

20:30

she asked her about what Rudy it said, Mrs

20:33

Miller gave her gave noncommittal answer saying

20:35

that once upon a time they thought that maybe perhaps

20:38

might have. but even if it did happen

20:40

there was no way to prove it so that was

20:52

Over. The years I thought that you might be someone else

20:54

child sesar to the back of largest mind

20:57

that, much later when she was in her mid thirties

20:59

she Headed to get to the bottom of it. She

21:02

was working for a of which included

21:04

genetic counselor. She told

21:06

the council and said she wants to get blood

21:09

test done. The counselor

21:11

asked her what the McDonalds knew about all this.

21:14

I don't think. know anything about

21:16

it. So

21:17

she said,

21:20

well, if you were to find out

21:22

that these

21:24

parents that you have are not your

21:26

parents and other

21:29

family doesn't want to have anything to with

21:31

you. How are you going to feel?

21:33

And

21:35

I said, well, i

21:37

don't know. I don't have

21:39

any idea and

21:41

she you really to consider how going

21:43

change your family for and

21:46

it's going to change relationships you.

21:50

she unless a

21:52

real reason

21:54

that need to know that

21:57

I i don't recommend that you take into it.

22:07

That's are spooked Marty so she left it

22:09

alone that's. what might have ended

22:11

if it hadn't been for mrs miller letter a decade

22:13

later It's

22:15

hard enough to learn the your mother isn't your mother,

22:17

but it's even harder when that news delivered by

22:19

someone like Mrs. Miller. Tagged

22:22

as in her strong suit. In fact,

22:24

you seem to have ten year for the whole thing. For

22:27

starters, Mrs. Miller didn't contact Marty

22:29

and Sue at the same time. She

22:31

first sent letter to Sue McDonald's. The

22:33

daughter she barely knew. And

22:35

then waited almost two weeks before million the letter to

22:37

Marty, the daughter she raised. That

22:40

you wanted to call Marty first, but never managed

22:43

to reach her. As result,

22:45

Party got worried about one of the most basic facts

22:47

of her life, second hand.

22:49

All the while waiting to hear directly from her mother.

22:52

In in the meantime I had gotten phone

22:54

calls from people didn't even know

22:56

that we're telling me you. know hey

22:58

i'm your brother hey Switched

23:01

at birth with you. If you know. When

23:03

she finally heard from Mrs. Miller, the mother she'd

23:05

grown up with. Not only did she get the letter

23:08

or?

23:08

But Mrs Miller had just been to the fiftieth anniversary

23:10

party of the McDonalds. Are these

23:12

biological parents?

23:14

And so she took a one of the programs

23:16

from it and she emailed it to me and.

23:19

basically and this is gonna sound like kind

23:22

of A small

23:24

thing but it was a big thing

23:26

the me circled the names of

23:28

people that were participating in the program

23:31

like. my one of my uncles

23:34

on the birth side Earl. Gonzales,

23:37

she circled his name, and she wrote, "This is your

23:39

uncle" And she circle.

23:42

My brother's and name. This

23:45

is your brother. Like Bob,

23:47

in case you would circle their names and save these

23:49

your parents. And you

23:51

know I'm reading this thing going see you mean me

23:53

there might this is my uncle this is my brother

23:56

this is my mom. and dad

23:58

this is not like My family,

24:01

I don't even know who they are. And

24:04

took that as a you, know

24:07

okay I'm saying as of right now

24:09

you're not our kid, your

24:11

their. kid you're in their family

24:22

On has her mom, Mrs Miller, see

24:24

the world and black and white she

24:26

focused on the facts of the situation may be hoping

24:28

she could fix things by simply setting the record

24:31

straight. It was a malicious

24:33

wasn't trying to be hurtful. After

24:35

all those years, she was just tired of secrets

24:38

and now she wanted everyone's role to be clear.

24:41

That was hard, Marty says, to be on the receiving

24:43

end of the sudden adamant truth telling. There

24:46

were few years there were. Every

24:49

chance my mother got see made it.

24:51

Perfectly clear

24:54

that email.

24:56

I was a McDonald's for. the longest

24:58

time whenever she would Text me. She

25:00

would include the McDonalds in my name.

25:02

Absolutely.

25:06

Bizarre. Things like that. She she,

25:08

that's just how

25:11

she is. She.

25:13

There is no gray area. Actually,

25:16

my mother wanted to go

25:19

to court and have my name

25:21

legally changed back to

25:23

sue McDonalds and have Sue's

25:26

name changed. That was her idea.

25:30

It's kind of, you know, she

25:32

tells me that this is, you

25:35

know, your you're my daughter

25:37

and but at

25:39

the same time, she says when

25:41

she referred you she says well,

25:43

your mother. Am

25:45

is doing such and such

25:47

a your mother said this. And

25:49

when I think of my mother, think of her.

26:00

During this time it was marred his dad, Reverend

26:02

Miller, who reassured her. They

26:04

started talking on the phone a lot he.

26:06

explained things like while those years

26:08

ago he refused to return to the hospital and switch

26:10

back the babies And he bet Martino

26:13

that he still loved her.

26:14

He did not want.

26:17

her to push me out

26:19

of the family the was In

26:22

fact, would call me and tell me. You

26:25

know I don't care what she says

26:27

you're, still our kid and. i'm

26:30

glad we had you

26:32

Did you feel that then after this happened

26:35

a? little bit

26:36

Closer to your dad, then your mom, yes.

26:39

Yeah definitely at,

26:42

that point my dad, had

26:45

the surrenders, guilt because

26:47

he saw like it was all, his fault that

26:50

he said have believed my mother's

26:53

free, you know all. those years and he

26:55

just i think he honestly never

26:57

There was a possibility.

27:01

He thought see really

27:03

dream the sap in our had an

27:06

just. got obsessed with it

27:09

And the other thing was that he really

27:12

thought what, difference

27:14

does it make? make child as

27:16

a child she's with us she's

27:18

ours now

27:26

The other problems I'm already was how to approach to McDonald's

27:29

or, biological parents They

27:31

were nice enough when she spoke to them on the phone, but

27:34

they weren't exactly welcoming her into the family.

27:36

I remember talking to Mother about

27:39

you know this is your. Blood.

27:42

Daughter: Here's Bob McDonald, who

27:44

remembers was having these great phone calls, but this

27:46

new found sister.

27:48

It is the daughter there actually

27:51

was,. in you

27:53

are an the in our i mean understand

27:56

you didn't raise her but she is your blood

27:58

biological down I'm

28:01

and I,

28:04

don't know that on c

28:06

was is excited about excited as

28:08

it was an i can figure

28:10

that out that the time He

28:13

will guard it.

28:15

Promote his perspective, the genetic counselor's

28:17

prediction from years before seem to be coming

28:19

true. I felt like she was losing

28:21

both her mother's. already

28:23

wrote a letter to K and body, Donald her biological

28:26

parents. I

28:28

want you to know that will accept whatever contact

28:30

you choose to have with me. Even if it's

28:33

none at all. promise

28:35

you, never try to make you think of me as your

28:37

daughter. know to choose

28:39

your daughter. The no one can ever expect

28:41

you to feel otherwise.

28:51

Marty eventually decided that the only way she was

28:53

going to resolve this was by getting on a plane

28:55

and flying out to Wisconsin to meet the McDonald's

28:58

face to face, give them real chance

29:00

to get to know her. To

29:02

get together at Bob and K McDonald's house

29:04

didn't go exactly as she wanted. From

29:07

the McDonald's perspective, Marty looked and acted

29:09

remarkably like a McDonald's. The got

29:11

along famously with their son, Bob.

29:14

You know, the exact same oil painting hang on her

29:16

wall in California as they had their living

29:18

room, a landscape with trees and water.

29:21

She was the girl they brought up. They

29:24

felt loyal to her. Protective, kind

29:26

of felt like. The like.

29:28

The okay we're kind of keeping me an arm's

29:31

distance because. They

29:33

weren't really sure how they felt or wanted

29:35

to feel. Then

29:37

I don't think so had that sense.

29:40

In fact, that's true.

29:42

Maybe because some of the Miller girls had suspected

29:44

that she was their sister for decades. And

29:47

because Mrs. Miller always knew the truth. He

29:49

was being embrace completely by the Miller clan.

29:52

The well sewage you'd ever owned would choose Marty.

29:55

The outgoing cheerleader over her. It

29:57

didn't work out that way. Here's.

30:00

Rd, in fact, it was the exact

30:02

opposite. That she had no families wanting

30:04

to. Make sure that you know.

30:06

She was included in their families, the

30:08

millers wanted to incorporate her family

30:10

and our family as quickly as they could

30:12

and.

30:15

See, I'd I did feel

30:18

in the beginning like she was taking my

30:20

place in my family. And

30:22

that was odd. Very

30:24

odd.

30:27

The and. Sometimes

30:31

I, don't, know

30:33

exactly what her relationship is

30:35

with my sister's you know sister's

30:38

i honestly don't know How

30:41

much they communicate how much their

30:43

in touch part, of

30:45

me really does not want to

30:47

know because think would feel

30:50

left out of something

31:00

Giving up but, if could be a mom

31:02

and to learn at the age of sixty nine

31:05

that your only daughter isn't actually your daughter

31:07

at all and that weren't bad enough.

31:10

that lots of people in your town people around

31:12

you new years before

31:14

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A T.L.

32:30

Hey. There this American life listeners

32:33

I'm Wesley Morris I'm a culture writer

32:35

at the New York Times and I co-hosted

32:37

podcast called still processing this

32:40

season This, invited some of my favorite

32:43

writers and critics to come talk

32:45

to come about the culture that shaped

32:47

does the changing ways we

32:49

consume it And was, yeah, no

32:51

worries is basically a pulsar unto

32:54

himself?

32:56

You can listen to still processing where ever

32:58

you get your podcasts.

33:03

This American life I'm Ira Glass.

33:05

If you just shooting and Jack have run is telling the story,

33:07

the sour of two girls switched at birth,

33:10

one mother, Mary Miller.

33:12

New and kept it a secret that nothing about it

33:14

for forty three years the.

33:17

other mother came mcdonalds I

33:19

had no idea. Did

33:21

your father's in this story when not interviewed

33:23

as McDonald's health didn't allow it? Miller

33:26

died in two thousand. Though

33:28

knit half of the story. We have been the mother.

33:31

Again, here's a cop.

33:33

The hospital and nineteen fifty one came

33:36

he thought was told that she given birth to a nine

33:38

pounds four ounce baby sitting.

33:40

question that Every day she was

33:42

at the hospital, the nurses broader the same baby

33:44

girl, nothing seem to Mr. Her. And

33:47

as baby, Sue grew up. The

33:50

one thing that puzzles okay with that, Mrs. Miller,

33:52

whom she knew only vaguely from church, seem

33:55

so interested in so. He always

33:57

referred to the girls, his sisters.

34:00

After they were born she had written as

34:02

a Christmas letter and then and,

34:05

said she'd always liked to keep

34:07

in touch with susan because that the

34:09

girls were so much like sisters and

34:11

precise at that was foolish

34:14

I. That time

34:16

I went along, was it because? don't

34:20

like to make. Waves

34:22

guess you might say and,

34:24

so that's why I. started

34:27

sending them started copy of our christmas letter

34:30

That's how Mrs. Miller kept track of Su.

34:33

Over the years, Mrs. Miller would do or say things

34:35

concerning the girls. The just seem

34:37

strange decay. When he's

34:39

church was celebrating it's one hundred and fiftieth anniversary,

34:42

for instance K, was chairperson city

34:44

event Millard once in

34:46

passer there, so he Mrs Miller were

34:48

invited. And the millers

34:50

came. And I

34:52

was in the hallway.

34:54

Mrs Miller said to me did you ever

34:56

think that our girls

34:58

were switched at birth and,

35:00

as I said Heaven's No? i

35:03

thought that was such that ridiculous thing to say

35:06

And down. The

35:08

night cause I was very busy because was chairperson

35:11

and had so many other things to do

35:14

so. all i pass it off but that's

35:16

all she said there was nothing any

35:18

further

35:20

I didn't, it didn't bother me because just

35:22

sat. couldn't see

35:25

any merit to it.

35:27

I didn't have a doubt in my mind and.

35:30

i'm not one to There will

35:32

travel.

35:40

What came a time of didn't know was that there was whole

35:42

slew of people and her church community who had

35:44

heard about the rumored baby switch from the beginning.

35:48

This is Miller, he came towel, we're actually in different

35:50

churches, K was a methodist

35:52

and the Miller's revenge helical. This

35:54

is Miller told people in the evangelical church

35:56

that her suspicions, friends of hers

35:59

and people she hoped. The going out on sale.

36:02

But later the to churches merge. The

36:04

bunch of people from the evangelical church, no

36:06

new came down was and to sue

36:08

us. Then realize that this was the girl

36:11

Mrs. Miller believed to be around.

36:13

This whole crop of people knew, but never said

36:15

anything became a doll.

36:17

One of them was Darlene Wolf, grab she heard

36:19

of first from her own mom who heard it at church.

36:22

He said everybody kind of

36:24

at church after having seen

36:27

Marty besides the rest of the family

36:30

are. Couldn't

36:33

believe that was. Their child's

36:35

it was pretty concealed and right within

36:37

our own answer is probably the lady say

36:39

maybe is no of the little group said got

36:42

together in fact my mother said

36:44

will just don't tell anybody an old of.

36:47

Though we all, we never said anything.

36:49

Bought it i, charlene wolf cram

36:51

didn't tell her daughter though and the daughter

36:54

bear with me ended up marrying

36:56

sue's brother bob or the older

36:58

but even she never divulge the secret to bob

37:00

or any of the mcdonalds here she is

37:03

her name is also su

37:04

Then I know didn't because

37:06

it was always just a rumor,

37:08

am I thought, well, he'll think I'm

37:11

nuts, you know, and he was

37:13

very angry at first with me, and

37:15

he said, "Why wouldn't you have told

37:17

me that they said would you have

37:20

believed me?" mean I'd

37:22

say v guess what my aunt think your

37:24

sister's yours won't let you know there

37:26

was no DNA testing back then or

37:28

anything else saw. i mean it

37:30

would have been no proof

37:32

That's what most people in town seem to seal, it

37:35

wasn't their place to bring up such a thing, especially

37:37

with no way to know of, was true for sure.

37:40

That meant was it after came a towel

37:42

finally found out the truth, and nice ninety four

37:44

people started coming up to her and church mostly

37:47

casually mentioning that they'd known about it all

37:49

law.

37:49

The i, was surprised, that

37:53

nobody really ever

37:55

They told,

37:57

us. that boon city

38:00

Nor in the lanes the hastens

38:02

I, just couldn't believe it, is

38:05

i just down

38:07

I just thought it was odd that,

38:10

so many people would know in the town of

38:13

our size which is like fifty five hundred,

38:15

people when that. many people

38:18

were aware of it that the news

38:20

didn't get to lose

38:27

Slowly, anger began to set in.

38:29

He was angry that Mrs Miller hadn't created

38:31

things back in nineteen fifty one. Mrs.

38:33

Miller and hijacked your life in this way. And

38:36

she was angry the Mrs Miller put Sue and the difficult

38:39

position of having to break news like this to

38:41

her parents and, angry

38:43

that now the millers raskin so much of sues

38:45

time and attention. he

38:47

got so bad he had to go on medication

38:49

for high blood pressure

38:51

The grocery were really clamoring to

38:54

get to know her and.

38:57

I felt excluded I.

39:00

felt they were trying to Take

39:02

her away. Then as. And

39:05

Susan always had said to me

39:08

mom why didn't you have any

39:10

more children after was born she wanted

39:12

to be a part of the big family so?

39:14

then she found out she had all of these

39:17

The brothers and sisters

39:20

and, down The phone calls

39:22

were fewer an eye and,

39:24

a curse marty didn't really call really whole

39:27

lot She's very busy gal

39:30

and. i was not having that much communication

39:32

with her

39:37

I said was losing both of them.

39:39

The mcdonnell began getting notes and phone calls

39:42

from Reverend Miller. He told me that he thought

39:44

it was God's will have this had happened. Even

39:47

so, he asked for forgiveness again

39:49

and again.

39:50

He just outright, he just saying, "Can you

39:52

forgive me, just say that on the telephone?"

39:56

Then yes and unfolding scriptures.

40:00

All the time for me to read to console

40:02

me because I had said that.

40:04

i had shed had lot of tears

40:07

and And I'and

40:09

and probably all of the emotions that

40:11

you have lissa deaths in

40:13

a family you know I.

40:16

think i will and into and kind of a depression

40:18

about similar to what i did when my mother

40:20

died

40:24

And so Chrissy was trying to.

40:27

Get me to say that I had.

40:29

forgiven them and

40:31

How did you feel when he said this was God's will

40:34

and what was your reaction?

40:35

I couldn't believe that because don't I,

40:38

don't, have that ceiling about

40:41

i don't think god and Honey,

40:43

scissors. And in a way.

40:47

I think what we do is pretty.

40:49

much our own doing

40:51

He feared everybody convinced I think

40:53

that it was God's will but.

40:56

i had talked to several of our

40:58

former pastors Who

41:00

knew?

41:01

About the situation and they,

41:03

yeah They showed

41:05

me that this is not God's will.

41:08

They said that was a cop out. And

41:12

so I don't think that was too

41:14

well received one mention.

41:17

that

41:18

I told Mrs Miller felt that it

41:21

was God's will when she realized

41:23

that she might not have the right child,

41:26

think it was his will that she. Do

41:28

something or do.

41:38

He wrote that letter to Mrs Miller eight years

41:40

after she learned the truth that's.

41:42

a long it took her took sort out her feelings Amy

41:45

Down and the Millers eventually reached kind of the tart

41:48

case, the longer angry the way she was.

41:51

that she says she'll never understand why mrs miller

41:53

stayed silent for all those years If

41:56

I had a strong ceiling. Is

41:59

she did?

42:00

I had the wrong baby I,

42:02

would have pursued it I'd i'd

42:04

don't care whether my husband objected

42:06

are not. eyes feel

42:09

like on should have made a.

42:12

wrong into a right

42:16

I only have one daughter and.

42:19

she had size daughters

42:22

Exactly where even weren't even

42:24

sure we'd have another child so ah,

42:27

course we were elated when I didn't

42:29

get pregnant and, and then to

42:32

think that think didn't get to raise

42:34

the one that. i have had

42:36

wanted to some much and

42:39

down Though.

42:43

I never will probably understand

42:46

why I, mean, I've

42:50

forgiven. them but that doesn't

42:52

mean that i forgotten can

42:55

still wonder why

42:58

And probably never will know why hasn't

43:00

come up any sooner.

43:09

Mary Miller is ninety six now.

43:12

She lives by herself in the country, her

43:14

house is still with the remnants of her a Norbert

43:16

life together in the church. They

43:18

are married for six years. There's

43:20

large statue of an angel in her sitting room where

43:22

she's planning to put our own grave. When

43:26

I first talked to Mrs Miller about what had happened

43:28

when Murray was born, she told me pretty much

43:30

the same story she told in her letter. How

43:32

she knew as soon as she got home and way, the baby

43:34

that the nurses it made a mistake.

43:36

Yeah psycho of nowhere as deeply

43:39

as the were on baby and,

43:41

he said: "Well I wouldn't disgrace

43:43

that does reflect the office mpg

43:45

eight that the wrong baby, any

43:48

says this is a nice little baby

43:51

little, keeper when

43:54

your husband said you

43:56

The babies to let's keep it, did

43:58

you agree with him immediately? With

44:00

your little bit of arguing back and forth of or what

44:02

to do? We

44:04

didn't get that that.

44:07

But I kept looking for

44:09

or even know and.

44:11

that was always asking Had

44:13

any like that like you're seeing a and

44:16

sector where? i would

44:18

go the doesn't have any touch

44:20

with In that McDonald's

44:22

we we, got introduced

44:24

to them

44:26

Hey, I came to talk

44:29

her about it.

44:29

The cheap seats, up with

44:32

somebody I was crazy was, pregnant

44:34

woman thought. i heard thunder

44:37

of heard

44:39

There's a little surreal to hear her talk about it in this

44:41

way, laughing like that, especially

44:43

after hearing came Donald side of things. Then

44:46

Mrs. Miller told me more of her side of the story.

44:50

The one thing she explained just how six she

44:52

was after they'd gone home with Marty and Nice and

44:54

fifty one, she was losing blood

44:56

and having spasms. The Dodger's

44:58

gonna die. The told me that

45:00

she even started calling around trying to find

45:02

someone who'd be mother to her six children. The

45:05

sickness, she said, lasted for six or seven months.

45:08

The time she was well fixing the baby's,

45:10

which problem was that much harder. Even

45:13

if she could somehow convince every one of his true.

45:15

What would happen if you suddenly to the six month old

45:18

away from the only mother she knew? The

45:20

families relationship with Doctor does thought was no

45:22

small thing either Reverend. miller

45:25

had made many visits to doctor dislikes wife

45:27

when she was sick and now dr death

45:29

lock refused to charge the millers for anything

45:32

The Millers didn't have much money and they might not have been

45:34

able to afford the healthcare, otherwise look

45:36

correct, sleep the up and dead zone

45:39

him for doing now. The

45:41

doctor'a been such. into good

45:44

do, I guess.

45:45

Why ruin all the

45:47

action know? Okay,

45:50

great pain. The ratio?

45:52

Because Mrs Miller didn't want to cross your husband

45:55

also get there was hope that maybe if

45:57

she drops enough hints calling the girl's

45:59

sisters. Such k. would

46:01

eventually realize on realize rome what has happened

46:04

There was an odd strategy if you can even call it

46:06

that once, you got married,

46:08

for instance the Millers gave her a true that

46:11

Norbert had made. to carve aside

46:13

from your other possible parents Who

46:16

dismiss it as part of the whole sister thing,

46:18

but she also thought was kind of weird? The

46:22

number's most ambitious scheme happened after

46:24

the girls graduated from high school when

46:26

they were about to be eighteen. This

46:28

is Miller arranged for the McDonalds to come to dinner.

46:31

He figured if she could simply get Qaeda look at

46:33

Marty K. would figure things out.

46:36

The evening just ended up being kind of baffling for

46:38

everyone involved, since only Mrs

46:40

Miller knew what was going on.

46:42

That day I noticed any, don't

46:44

know why they did.

46:45

No, they said, get Marco duct

46:47

like them less I the.

46:50

don't know why it is. In of it and. The

46:54

fact is Mrs Miller longed for Su.

46:56

Her biological daughter. The person

46:58

she realized the mistake back in ninety two, fifty

47:00

one. That seems futile trying

47:02

to convince her husband, Norbert. see

47:05

as a glee. Right

47:08

direction. Keep

47:11

my, yeah, says made me. Then

47:13

the English right, new that.

47:17

In the every cat amid car could kill me

47:20

say he's,

47:22

all right. right The

47:25

and.

47:29

Yeah I realize that Bill I've got.

47:32

me all along

47:36

Were you afraid of Norbert at all?

47:39

I know wasn't afraid

47:41

of the night and. It with things and

47:43

couldn't do and. And

47:46

keep his friendship the, you know, it

47:49

it's turned against him. Right

47:51

or an unmanned. Him.

47:57

guess. can't understand. didn't

48:01

hit the discussion and ice at lifting.

48:04

Good at we're doing that marriage. It

48:07

around it. And knew

48:09

my around. think

48:13

clothes on and kick out.

48:18

Would you ever a time when he saw back and

48:20

thought I, should have? stood

48:22

my ground more with him on that

48:26

No I guess have a trace

48:29

back at it.

48:31

That wouldn't work. I

48:34

couldn't do anything I'm at it.

48:39

Not say anything were.

48:42

to get her back

48:45

Norbert Shit, gone back and said

48:47

this is made me.

48:51

This is a bad decision that

48:54

he, didn't we are isis like as

48:56

the example and at Martin or is it?

49:00

to make and

49:12

Neither soon nor Marty blames this is Miller

49:14

for going along with her husband this,

49:16

either are angry with her they knew reverend

49:19

miller they understand what their relationship

49:21

was like sanderson why she didn't

49:23

speak out sooner Forty

49:26

two years after the switch Reverend

49:28

Miller finally laid eyes on Sue at the McDonald's

49:30

wedding anniversary party and,

49:33

the moment he's sire he's knew that she was his biological

49:35

daughter she looked exactly like

49:38

him At last, Mrs.

49:40

Miller felt free to act. A

49:42

month and a half later, she wrote the letter. Yeah.

49:47

I want. Then and get the listening.

49:50

He,

49:52

he didn't. And we did.

49:57

That boy was it really for me. The

50:01

guy's hell. is terrible

50:04

The red. Hang on, what your blood?

50:10

Say at the. up

50:12

and

50:15

It to pay an awful long time

50:17

and sorry.

50:21

One thing Mrs Mother doesn't regret is raising

50:24

Marty. She remembers Marty

50:26

always lightning the mood in their house.

50:28

ezekiel chief she,

50:31

knew three of us. live like

50:34

He always head jokes CNN

50:37

soaps everyday and, people

50:39

as well as thing is still not

50:41

was it was good for us. laugh

50:45

Oh, a really good for as ever.

50:49

I mean, that the my kids

50:51

are often serious about life

50:53

yet and.

50:55

Him or like I,

50:57

am. before when

51:00

it as she thought it was god's will

51:02

you said yes And is

51:04

the reason because? Marty

51:07

Brodeur. Something important

51:09

to your family he, seat it

51:13

He bad mean it.

51:17

The or he?

51:19

I'm writing you this sort know to officially

51:21

give you my welcome to the smell or family

51:23

it and relay since.

51:25

This is Sue reading a letter she got

51:27

some time ago from her newfound Miller sister

51:30

face.

51:31

Though there are many, many good things about our family

51:33

and parents and been raised by that family,

51:35

there were also some definite deficit.

51:38

If you're ever curious as to what they were

51:41

I would be very willing to sell you in

51:44

so. you fully appreciate the parents

51:46

who raised you The Queen.

51:49

ourselves Ruth and me.

51:51

We are at least I always figured

51:53

you lucked out probably.

51:56

martha with her happy go lucky

51:58

nature The takes it. That

52:00

of the Miller home better.

52:02

And we hope you flourished in the McDonald's

52:05

household.

52:07

Wow wow, I'm

52:09

so she's base in a minutes.

52:12

and this issue basically saying to you

52:15

You may have actually gotten break

52:17

here being in the family, and I lucked

52:19

out lucked out. I

52:22

mean, the are there times when you when you feel

52:24

little bit guilty about and of having lucked

52:26

out with the home that was, you know, maybe a little

52:28

bit easier to grow up and.

52:32

Sure, I guess it does.

52:35

I'm little building guilt, but it's not my,

52:37

it's not my fault I was passing and didn't

52:39

have anything to do with it.

52:42

Racist or hate cold and she was talking

52:44

about the way her mother would talk

52:46

to her and sink, "How would I have survived",

52:48

says that kind of upbringing. The

52:50

don't didn't drop like that at don't,

52:53

know how i would assume fast paced

52:56

The juices are a lot of things she missed out on

52:58

to buy, not growing up with the millers. The

53:00

family did all kinds of hobbies painting

53:02

and rock polishing and three d photography

53:05

they. had dogs and raised and gore rabbits

53:08

Sorts of interesting people came to the house,

53:10

guests from out of town and missionaries. It

53:12

was a different way of living. When the she admires.

53:16

As for Marty. She doesn't like to dwell

53:18

on the notion that Sue might have been the one who locked

53:20

out. Then. That

53:23

ever cross your mind and.

53:26

What if the switch hadn't been made

53:29

but? if the mcdonalds or just taking me home and i had

53:31

grown up in the house with my biological

53:33

parents my biological brother who

53:35

would be That's

53:37

a funny question, I. I

53:40

really am.

53:44

It really only thought about that one

53:46

time I only let myself think about

53:48

it one time it was actually right after

53:50

met them and. i

53:52

was going back to my mother's

53:55

house so left pray to seem

53:58

Am I was? Driving.

54:02

Than it was then that I started thinking,

54:04

oh, my gosh email, my life

54:06

would have been so different. An

54:10

evite the more thought about it, the more realized

54:12

you know can't think about this because it.

54:14

Drive me crazy if do.

54:19

In so, I kind of made

54:21

a problem. The myself that. I

54:23

would never go down that road again

54:26

that was not in the. Not

54:30

going to go there. That

54:34

really haven't. There's

54:36

no point.

54:46

It's pretty rare that Marty and Sue actually meet

54:48

face to face.

54:50

Once every few years, they get together for a large

54:52

family gathering, wedding, graduation,

54:55

funeral. Then. Summer bombing Donald

54:57

younger son got married and period as she'd

55:00

when, Marty showed up at the house for brunch the day

55:03

after the wedding she couldn't have see more at.

55:05

Home with the family that she didn't need to afford

55:07

it's, cities the groom and handed

55:09

Bob's older son of present for his, baby

55:12

the, little late kindergarten.

55:17

, little out up

55:21

a birthday present when

55:23

soon arrived she sitting quietly

55:25

this is the side of the family she was raised with

55:28

but seem tense watching

55:30

is. Marty made the rounds everybody laughing

55:33

haven't the to them so near each other was little awkward

55:35

people were definitely aware whenever, both women were

55:38

in the same room at. One

55:40

point or the. end of the party has sues to nearby

55:43

party started talking about the room that she'd grown

55:45

up in and the miller household all

55:47

the girls were in the same room party

55:49

shared bed with her sister says had

55:52

to crawl through the sent to get to the bathroom at

55:54

night with his face with lots of always had bathroom half

55:56

sense that of doj in the hall and gosh so

55:58

it went from

56:00

Roy went on the way I want.

56:03

my sisters and sisters crazy

56:04

No one on one every once in save

56:07

was a teenager sued horse the dresser and

56:09

the seat herself against. them

56:11

The or any, in the room

56:13

you were any mean? su

56:15

he was the first time i've seen them talk to each other

56:18

Yeah in the room that we slept in the

56:20

fall through the read his six hits

56:22

a bathroom under. the bed

56:24

and It's good dog's your flag

56:27

that doesn't it yeah, sued

56:29

like barn doors to secure

56:31

and over the Romans you're you're. like

56:34

oh my

56:36

Your your own. Yeah

56:40

and, my own bed soon as they say. whatever

56:45

it was as if realize

56:48

This is Miller says she worries for Marty and so.

56:50

That whether the ever truly get along?

56:53

There's no question things have gotten better between the

56:55

two girls and their moms. MacDonald'a

56:58

a still tight with Sue, the daughter she raised.

57:01

That she's also much closer with Marty. Hey,

57:04

and Marty both cried when Marty left the wedding

57:06

for California. The

57:08

things are good with Mrs Miller too. Marty

57:10

to accepted that, despite some of the clumsy things

57:12

that are mother said and did when she broke the news

57:14

there. She met well. Because

57:18

Mrs Miller once week to check up on her just

57:20

like suit us. The

57:22

big family questions are mostly worked out,

57:25

one of the toughest things both Marty and Sue have

57:27

to deal with his logistical. Having

57:29

two sets of parents into full sets of siblings

57:31

and cousins is kind of practical headache.

57:34

Their birthdays and graduations and figuring

57:37

out where to spend holidays. Earlier

57:39

this month, Sue's daughter got married in Michigan.

57:42

All the millers were invited and all the McDonalds

57:44

were to. Marty considered

57:46

whether she's go stink, grew up

57:48

with sue after all and she's not actually related

57:50

to order kids that

57:52

in the and she made the trip Because

57:55

she's miller and so is so. And

57:57

she the McDonald. And so is.

58:12

The okay?

58:13

The graphic narrative: Welcome to the New World

58:16

Return in The New York Times, When The Pulitzer

58:18

Prize.

58:19

The Zebras broadcast the story in two thousand and eight

58:21

the mom who knew about the baby switch from the beginning Mary

58:23

Kay Miller has died, she was ninety

58:26

eight years old.

58:35

Out of Mercer.

58:40

said Then.

58:50

Problem is released today by Jean Marie and myself

58:52

or staff or today's program included Alex Blumberg

58:55

or can't accept Lindley, the pollock Robin

58:57

Semi, to list the ship my Tyranny Nancy. Updike

58:59

is Diane Blue, senior producer for this episode,

59:01

is Julie Snyder, musical for this episode,

59:04

Jessica hopper a digital production help

59:06

when today's rerun from the Shell navarro especially

59:08

thanks to. Date is Sheree Weaver, Jahren Nelson and

59:10

Gregg Williams thanks especially to the

59:13

McDonalds Miller families getting us

59:15

into their home telling their stories our,

59:17

website this American Life Dot. org. You

59:19

can stream over seven hundred of the episodes

59:21

of our program for absolutely free. also

59:24

these videos there's list of favorite shows

59:26

tons of other stuff there to again

59:28

this american life dot org this

59:31

american life through the public radio stations by

59:33

pr acts the public radio

59:35

exchange thanks as always there are programs

59:37

co-founder mr tory morality you

59:39

know to run big public radio station was

59:41

not always the dream job the wanted and i

59:43

dunno his heart was elsewhere

59:45

I tried out for chilling just couldn't do it

59:48

and. i wanted to be a cheerleader you know

59:50

and get pissed

59:52

I'm Eric last back next week, more

59:54

stories that this American life.