In this episode of the Karamo show, host Karamo brings together Ellen, a woman adopted at birth whose biological mother died when she was three, and Yolanda, a foster‑to‑adopted woman who also lost her mother as a teenager. Both women have spent years searching for their birth families. Ellen recounts her early curiosity about her origins, the notes left by her deceased mother, and a painful reunion with her maternal relatives who made her feel unwelcome. In 2020 she took a genealogy DNA test, which identified Yolanda as a potential sister. Yolanda shares her own story of being placed in foster care, reuniting with her birth mother, a long‑standing search for her father, and the recent murder of her only sister. The two women quickly formed a daily connection after exchanging numbers. Ellen’s husband Van comments on how the search has brought new happiness to Ellen. The episode culminates in a live DNA reveal confirming that Ellen and Yolanda are indeed biological sisters, prompting emotional reactions and a sense of closure, belonging, and hope for both families.
Chapters
First, tell me about your mother.
Her name was Jamie. Jamie Lynn Border. She was 15 when she was pregnant with me, had me at 16. From Canton, Ohio. Blue eyes, ginger hair. She was beautiful.
And when were you adopted?
I was adopted at birth.
At birth. Okay. How old were you when you asked to see your biological mother?
I was around 8 years old.
8 years old.
Mm-hmm.
And what was that like?
I was, you know, I was just a wondering child. Like, I didn't really know. My adoptive parents are Caucasian. I'm biracial. So I already figured like there was something different. You know what I mean?
Yeah.
So that's when I asked them and they told me like, "You're adopted." Yeah.
Okay. And what happened when you met your biological mother?
I never got to meet her. She passed away when I was 3.
Got it.
I got it.
Yeah.
Did she ever leave anything for you?
She left me a blanket, a bracelet, and a little knickknack that had tape on the back of it, which had notes in it that she wrote for me.
Mm.
So my producer told me that you brought the notes with you?
Yeah.
Oh, wow. Can I see the notes?
Yeah.
Can I read 'em? Yeah, would you read 'em?
Yeah, I'll read 'em to you guys. It's just one note, but okay. She said, hi baby, here are some questions I would like to ask you. Do you eat a lot? Do you smile a lot? Do you still have a lot of hair? How much do you weigh? There's one big thing I want to tell you, and it's that I miss you so much. I miss going down the hall and seeing the smell on your little face. I "Mommy, I'll be back to get you one day. Mommy loves you." Oh.
That's beautiful. I'm glad you at least have that.
Thank you.
How often do you read that note or read those notes?
Often, especially her death date and her birthday. Those are the main days I really read 'em.
Yeah. So when did you reconnect with your mom's side of the family?
2016. I was 16 years old. They were okay people at first. I mean, they are okay people. It's just been a lot.
What was their reaction? Why was it a lot?
It didn't feel welcoming. I felt just like not welcomed and they just made me feel like I wasn't, I wasn't good enough for them.
Mm, mm.
Did they say anything?
Yeah, they've said things. Some said good things, some said bad things, you know?
Got it, got it, got it. I can see you don't wanna go into that.
Yeah.
Okay, I understand. So when did you start searching for your dad's side or your dad?
In 2020 is when I first started searching. I haven't gotten anywhere, obviously.
Yeah. And you haven't had any success at all?
Mm-mm.
So what led you to take this genealogy test?
So, like I said, I've been, you know, looking for him and I've had no information on who he was. So taking the test just, you know, I thought I was gonna have kind of answers and I think I do.
Yeah, so something popped up.
Yeah.
So what happened when you took it? What popped up?
Yolanda popped up as a potential sibling, sister.
Wow. How did that make you feel when you saw that?
Oh, I was beyond happy.
Yeah?
Oh yeah.
Did you respond immediately?
She actually reached out to me first and then I answered back and we exchanged numbers and we talk almost every day.
So you're talking on the phone? Yeah, that's amazing. Have you ever met in person?
No.
Never met?
No.
And this is since 2020?
Mm-hmm.
So you've talked on the phone and you're not, the genealogy doesn't confirm if you're actually sisters, but you have this connection. Mm-hmm. Got it. If she is your sister, what would that do? What would that mean to you?
Oh my goodness. My whole heart will feel so whole. You know what I mean?
Yeah.
Knowing that I actually got blood family besides my daughter makes me feel just, So warm inside.
I hear that. Well, everyone, let's hear what Yolanda had to say.
Ellen connecting with me was the miracle I needed. I went to a foster home when I was 3 days old, straight from the hospital. When I was 14, I reunited with my birth mother, and she didn't know who my father was. I've been searching for my father for 15 years online, on social media, and I still haven't had any luck. It was heartbreaking. It made me feel like I was nothing. Back in May, I did a test to find my father before my wedding, 'cause I wanted him to be there to walk me down the aisle, but I didn't have any luck. I received an email saying I had a match, and it was a potential sister. I reached out to her with my number. And she wrote me back the same night and we've been talking ever since. And it made me feel so good because I want Ellen to be my sister so bad. I recently lost a sister. My sister was murdered in 2021. And with Ellen, I'll be gaining one. Wow.
How do you feel about what she just said?
Her situation with her sister passing away It's just so sad, and I'm on the same boat as her. I want her to be my sister so bad. I need that. She needs that.
Yeah. Well, Ellen, we have your husband Van in the audience today. Welcome, Van.
Yes, we do.
Yeah. I want to hear from you, Van. How has this search affected your wife?
When we be around my family, like she said, she doesn't really know how it feel to have family that, like, resembles her, acts like her, anything like that. So like you can really tell like she's like hurting inside 'cause she doesn't know that she has family out here besides our child. And like us coming here has made her way happier than what she actually has been in the last like 8 years we've been together. Like this is the most I done seen her smile and you know, that's, you know.
So yeah. Come on. What's making you emotional right now?
Yeah.
He's just so sweet.
Yeah. You love that man.
Yes.
It's my man.
That's beautiful. That's beautiful. I appreciate that perspective 'cause it lets us know like this is a big moment for you. This is big. Thank you so much, man. Well, and I wanna know, are you ready to meet your potential sister Yolanda for the very first time?
Yes.
All right, everyone, well, please welcome Yolanda to the show. Yolanda, welcome. Thank you for being here.
How you doing?
I'm good. You both have beautiful eyes. Thank you. So tell me, how do you feel about what was just said?
Touching.
Touching.
Yeah.
Yeah. This has been a long time. This has been a long journey for you even finding your own father.
Yes.
Tell me about that.
Well, I was in the system since I was 3 days old. I'm sorry. And I was adopted when I was 2. I had a loving family. My mother died when I was 14. You know, as I grow older, you know, became an adult, I started looking for my father. You know, I didn't have any luck. My mom, she really didn't know who he was. You know, I kept looking, social media, online, no luck. In May, I did a test thinking I was gonna find my father and I found a potential sister.
Yes.
Yes.
So that is the genealogy test that you took?
Yes. Yeah.
What did you do when you matched with her?
I immediately, wrote her and gave her my number.
Yeah.
And she texted me.
Immediately. Immediately. Both of y'all was on it quick.
Yes.
Makes sense to me. So what did it feel like to know that you may have a potential sister out there?
It makes me feel so good. Like I said, I just recently lost a sister.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
She was murdered. And that was my only sister and my big sister. We grew up in the same home. We was both adopted.
I can only imagine what you're experiencing and still grieving that right now. Yeah. Did you know that you may have had a potential sibling out there?
No.
No one ever said that to you?
Nope.
Yeah. What would it mean to you if Ellen is your sister?
It would mean so much.
Yeah?
It would.
What's going through your mind?
Just having a sister, you know? Just a, especially from a father that I never knew. And I have a sister. I don't have a sister anymore, so.
I hear that. Ellen, you are the one who wanted to solve this DNA mystery. I think we shouldn't even waste any more time. I think it's time to unlock this DNA. DNA Truth. This is your truth to open. Are you ready?
Yeah, I'm ready. This is the answer. I'm not lying. I'm so nervous.
Can you open it? You are my mom. I knew you looked like me. Oh my God.
I mean, I don't ever know these results before because we have to keep them sealed. And I was looking at your eyes and I was like, they got to be sisters. These eyes look alike.
Can we keep this?
That's yours. That's yours.
Oh my God. I'm shaking.
Oh my gosh. What's it feel like now? This is your sister.
Your sister, sis.
Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh. That's crazy.
Yeah.
I mean, you two for a while have been, you two have been searching for a very long time for family. And now you know that you have family. Yeah. Yeah. Is this everything you thought it would be? Just knowing and confirming?
I'm so happy.
And my family, my real family, I was like sending pictures to them. Like, "Do she look like me?" And they said, "Yeah, you really do." You really look like me.
I'm still the youngest sibling. I'm still the youngest sibling.
You know what? I know that you found your sister, but you've also found support. You found hope. You found love and you found family.
Yeah.
You have. Hey, listen, before we go, I always think I wanna give an opportunity, and this is, my producers don't know this, but is there any way we could put the photo back up of your mother? Just because if anyone out there is watching that might know who your father is and might recognize this woman and could reach out to the Karamo Show and let us know, there might be a way that we could figure out who your biological father is. So if anyone, if you recognize this woman, if you've seen this woman's face, if you remember her from when you were younger, please let us know. Any lead we'll take because you two deserve that. You deserve that. You're welcome. I'm happy that we can be here to support you in that. And maybe we can give you some more information as well. Well, listen, good luck. So happy for you.
