In this episode of KARAMO, host Karamo facilitates a deeply personal reunion between Dion, a 32‑year‑old who has long sought his biological father, and Darryl, a man identified through a genealogy DNA test as a potential match. Dion recounts his childhood—being adopted by his aunt and uncle after his mother fell ill, growing up without a male role model, and the emotional void that persisted into adulthood. Motivated by social media exposure to services like AncestryDNA, Dion pursued a DNA test, which later suggested Darryl could be his father. The two meet on‑stage after a nervous FaceTime call, noting superficial resemblances and sharing hopes that the forthcoming DNA results will confirm a paternal link. The DNA reveal, however, shows Darryl is not Dion’s biological father. Despite the disappointment, Darryl expresses unconditional love and commitment to support Dion, while his wife Lorraine and daughter Tracy welcome Dion into their large blended family. Karamo and the production team offer further assistance, suggesting sibling testing to locate the true father within Darryl’s extensive family network. The episode blends emotional storytelling, family dynamics, and the complexities of modern genealogical searches.
Chapters
My producers tell me that you've had questions about your biological father for 32 years.
Absolutely.
Tell me about that.
I've always had questions.
Yeah.
I've always been curious. It's been hard not knowing, to be honest.
Yeah.
So tell me about your childhood.
It was tough. At the time, my mother was pretty sick, so I was adopted by my auntie and my uncle. I grew up with them and they were definitely making sure I had everything that I needed growing up. But at the same time, not knowing my father or having that specific male role model, I mean, it was difficult.
Makes sense. So what was it like growing up without knowing who your father was? Was there moments that you were like, "I need him right now"?
Absolutely. Especially like, you know, during my teenage years, you know, you got puberty and all that stuff.
Yeah.
And it was difficult, especially knowing that like my friends or even my brother, like they knew who their fathers were and me not knowing or having that, like I said, that specific person, like, hey, I can go to my dad.
Yeah.
It was rough.
Yeah.
So can I ask you about your mom? Did you two have a good relationship? Absolutely.
Yeah. Super fun, super loving.
Oh, nice.
She can sing. I learned how to play piano from her.
Oh, nice.
Cooking a lot, coming up with fun little concoctions. It was awesome.
Yeah. Okay, nice. Yeah. So when you asked your mother about your father, what kind of answers did you get?
I always had questions. Yeah. Although when I would ask her, unfortunately, she just didn't have much information to give me. She just couldn't really remember much.
Okay, and what made you take a genealogy test?
Honestly, I was just perusing Facebook one day or Instagram and I kept seeing like AncestryDNA or 23andMe and I'm like, maybe this can give me, you know, the information that I'm looking for.
Mm-hmm.
So eventually, he came up as a hint as to, to be my potential father. And I'm like, after 32 years, I'm like, no way. Yeah. But eventually I was able to connect with someone who connected me to him.
Yeah.
And we've been talking for about 2 months.
Well, take me back. How did it feel to get matched with Darryl? Because to take the genealogy test and for it to say, this is your dad, what was that moment like for you?
Honestly, I was like, no way.
Yeah, yeah.
I really couldn't believe it. But at the same time, I'm like, Could this really be the person I've been searching for?
So these were your genealogy results. So this was you.
Yes.
9th3Living, and then it connected you directly to him.
Mm-hmm.
Wow. Absolutely. So I was able to find kind of like all those other people, like probably months ago, like a year ago.
Yeah.
But you know, Darryl, he came up recently.
Did anyone in your family recognize or remember Darryl?
Yes. I showed a picture to my mother and she did say he looked familiar. Granted, it's been 32 years, but yeah.
So that was her response. Okay then. Did you feel like a connection the first time you were on FaceTime with Darryl?
I did. I mean, definitely.
I saw hesitation.
Yeah, because I was a bit nervous. I mean, 'cause it's the first time speaking to someone who could be my pops.
Do you see a resemblance?
He's a bit up there in age.
Yeah.
But I kind of do. I mean, maybe like similar eyebrows or nose or something.
Okay, so you see some resemblance?
Yeah.
So what are you hoping the DNA test shows? You think the truth will reveal today?
I'm hoping that it will reveal that maybe he's my father and I can get these results and maybe start to build a relationship from there.
Got it, okay then. Well everyone, I think it's time for you to meet Darryl, the person that could be your potential father for the very first time. So everyone, please welcome Darryl to the show.
How you doing, man?
Nice to meet you.
It's good to finally meet you. Good to see you.
Oh yeah, absolutely.
Nice to meet you, Darryl.
Wow. This is amazing.
I do see the resemblance.
You see the resemblance?
Yeah, we both got glasses.
Darryl, thank you for being here.
God bless.
How does it feel to finally meet Dion?
My heart.
Yeah.
I know, guys, my father, He did not leave any of his children behind. There's nothing like a man in his son's life. Yeah, agreed.
Nothing. Agreed. So do you see resemblance? Let me see, 'cause I heard earlier when y'all were talking.
Yeah, I see family.
You see family?
I see family there.
Yeah, y'all see it too?
I see my family. I can kind of see myself when I say see myself when I was about his age and everything. I was out there in them streets.
Yeah.
Really, I was. Everybody got a history and nobody perfect.
Yeah, yeah.
But I'm glad that the good Lord saved me.
OK. Amen.
He saved me.
Yeah.
You're a pastor now?
Yeah. You're a pastor now.
Bishop. Yeah. Bishop, excuse me.
Bishop-wise. Yeah.
See, look at that. All of us in the streets, we can be bishops one day.
All right?
Yeah.
Amen. My producers told me, though, that you were very interested in knowing Dionne's height.
Why? Oh, yeah. Well, all of my people are tall. You can tell I got tall lineage. Yeah. You're almost up there.
Look at you. OK. See?
So that's why, because you were like, no one would be short in your family. Family, okay.
It doesn't look like he passed that down to me if he is my dad.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, so do you remember Dion's mom?
You know what? I was out there.
Yeah.
It was a back then.
It was back then.
That's what's going on.
He being honest. Why y'all calling him a liar? Don't act like y'all ain't did something else. No offense, son. No offense, promise you.
The way that you said their life wasn't how you were living your life at that time, you could have fathered children you didn't know about.
Exactly.
Got it, makes sense. So what do you want the DNA truth to be?
I want this to be my son.
Yeah.
I would love for him to be my son. Yeah. Hey Kenny, man, miss you.
Yeah, definitely.
Miss you, man.
So Darryl, your wife Lorraine is in the audience. Lorraine, how you doing?
I'm good, how are you?
I'm good, nice to meet you. How long have you and Darryl been married?
We've been married 14 years.
14 years, okay.
I met him, he was—
And how many children do you two have?
We have 9 children together. 9. It's a blended family. That way we don't have no ups and no downs, 'cause we don't do steps.
Yes, of course.
We all blend together, we stay on one level.
So do you think that Dion is Daryl's son?
I do.
You do?
I think that, you know, sometimes you can look at a person from, if you look directly at Dion, you'll say no, maybe he don't look like Dion, but they have different way they move their head, different way they move their lips, their face structures. And if you cover up one part and I see Darryl in him.
You see him, yeah. So what's next for all of you if this is his child?
Him to come in and blend in with the rest of the family. You know, we gonna treat him just like we treat the rest of our kids.
You mind that?
Absolutely. Darryl, have you told your other kids about Dion?
Oh yeah.
They all know?
Yeah, they know. Wow.
How does it feel to know that you might be getting blended into a big family?
Honestly, it's exciting.
It's exciting. We're getting a ping and it's from Darryl's oldest daughter Tracy. Um, let's hear what she has to say.
I'm very confused with my dad not remembering who the woman is that could have had the child, and it's just a mystery to me on whether or not this is his kid. To find out about I could possibly have a brother was very surprising to me. This far late in my age, I would assume that somebody would have come come out sooner if they had suggested such a thing. I don't know who took the test that could possibly connect my dad to Dion, but I'm hoping that whatever information that they have, that they get the answers that they need after this test, and that if he is family, that we're able to welcome him in and make him feel loved and supported as we do all of our family.
Well, how does that make you feel hearing your potential sister say that they'll welcome you?
Honestly, makes me feel loved and supported.
Yeah.
That's what I'm looking for.
I will say that one of the things that I can understand what she's saying about the fact that neither you or your mother can remember each other or this moment, you know what I mean? But I do understand how when you're younger, when life is hard, you're surviving, you're making decisions, that are not always the clearest, I do understand how sometimes we disassociate from those moments.
Right.
Because it's hard to face those moments. So to be better, we disassociate. So I can understand that. But you know, I can see why she'd be like, "Well, they don't remember each other?" You know what I mean?
Yes.
Yeah. Well, I think it's time to unlock the DNA truth. Are you ready? 32 years you have been questioning who your father is. Your mother has not had answers for you. She's told you she can't remember that time period. And after taking a genealogy test, you were linked to Darryl. And after 32 years, just 2 months ago, you realized that you might have found your father.
Yeah.
In this envelope is the DNA truth. This is the truth of who you are. This will tell you if this is your father. This is your truth to open, not mine. So good luck.
I mean, right now, It's a lot. I mean, it's definitely been 32 years and I'm honestly hoping this is the result I'm looking for. You know, this is my father. That's definitely gonna, like I said, fill in that missing puzzle. That's what I'm hoping for, no doubt.
Yeah.
Bit nervous, to be honest.
Me too.
Geez, but I'm excited and I think I'm ready.
Okay.
Truth, huh?
Hmm.
Wow. That is interesting.
What does it say?
So when it comes to me, it seems that Darryl is not my biological father.
Man.
Yeah.
Huh.
Can I go over there?
Yeah, of course you can.
Well.
Of course you can. Yeah. I love you regardless of what goes on. You gonna still be my son, man. 'Til we find out. 'Til we find out who your father is. I'm with you 'cause I know you in my family. I know, I can feel it.
Yeah.
That spirit is there.
Absolutely.
I'm so sorry you didn't find out. God bless you and I love you, man.
I love you too, Mama.
Mom.
Darryl, if y'all can take a seat for me. Dion first. I'm very sorry that you didn't get the answers you're looking for. This is one of the reasons why we have the DNA test is because genealogy can connect, but it doesn't give you the direct answer. Is there any brothers that you have or cousins that you were around at that time?
We got a big family. Yeah. 3 of my brothers passed away. I have another brother. He lived in Detroit as well.
Do they have any children?
Oh yeah.
They have children as well?
Yeah. Got it. Got it.
The reason I'm saying that is because clearly we do know you're in this family.
He's in the family.
There's somewhere in this family. So one of these brothers has to be your father. And so if the ones that pass have children, we always, we do sibling testing.
As well.
We can support you in getting the answers. If you want that support, we are here to give it to you. We're a free resource for you so you can make sure you get what you need.
Yeah, you need to know the truth.
Yeah, you need to know the truth.
Absolutely.
What I will tell you is that to be able to connect with Darryl, I think, is probably a big blessing. Oh yeah. Because you're connected with someone first who welcomed you, who showed you unconditional love immediately, and who I know is going to support you on this journey. And sometimes walking this journey, it's It's easier when you know you got somebody you can look at who's gonna be there for you.
True.
So I'm glad that you two had the opportunity to meet. I'm so sorry to you as well. I can see that this hit you pretty hard. Oh, it did. Yeah. Well, listen, if you want some more support, we are here for you. We will test whomever you need so that you can get it.
And you know I'm here for you. All right?
Yeah.
Thank you for sharing your story with us.
I'm here for you, bro.
Everyone, make sure to come back next time, friends, so we can keep talking and growing. I love you all.
