Did I Find My Sister While Scrolling Social Media?! | KARAMO

So how did you find your potential sister online?

Well, first off, I'm adopted.

Yes.

And one day I just opened TikTok and you know how when you open TikTok, the For You, anything pops up.

Yeah.

So she popped up and I was like, "Ooh, I think that's her." What? I looked, oh, there she go. Look at her, ain't she beautiful, y'all?

So just off of this video?

And then I looked at the emblem on her shirt. Yes. And I researched it and it was a business in Tallahassee because I knew I was from Tallahassee. So, you know.

This is wild because this wasn't something like, you just, a video just popped up. Just popped up. And you just said that.

That's, I felt a peace, like a calming, 'cause I've been praying for like 26 years. So it was like a big sense of peace that came over me.

Okay, and so you started searching for your biological family 26 years ago, you said?

Yes.

Yeah, what was that search like?

Well, I was 15. I was a little crazy. I had a learner's permit and I had older friends and they would rent me a car. I would give them money to rent me a car and I would go to Tallahassee and, sorry mom, and I would walk around during FAMU homecoming 'cause it's so many people and I would look like, who looks like me? Does anybody look like me? Wow. To see, 'cause I always felt I look like somebody. I have strong genes.

You could have been there when I was on homecoming. You could have ran into me.

I probably did, honey.

If y'all know, Florida A&M University has the best homecoming ever. Yes. And baby, you was running around. I could have been like, hey, that's your sister over there, okay? Let me find out.

Right.

That's crazy because that desire to find your family was that strong that you were like, I would rather search in a crowd to see if I can find somebody rather than not know who I am and where I come from.

Absolutely.

Wow.

So how did you end up finding your possible biological mother?

During my search, 'cause my background is like investigative criminal, so I used some skill and I found a grand uncle.

Wow.

Reached out to him. He was like, "Are you sure? I don't know about nobody giving up a kid for adoption." I was like, "Okay." So he reached out to who I believe is my biological mom at the time and she called me. And she was like, hey daughter. And I was— and we were talking.

She just said, hey daughter.

She said, hey daughter. And she was like, I'm confused because I met another little girl when she was 8 years old and they said she was my daughter. And I was like, something don't sound right.

Something don't sound right.

Yeah.

As a mother, I would know.

Yeah, exactly.

I would know if I pushed out 1 or 2 kids.

Yeah.

I was like, something don't— something didn't click. But I kept going because I knew I had to pull I had to pull the important information out.

Yes, of course. What did she say? What did you pull out?

She was like, "Well, they brought me this little girl." And I was like, "Well." So then she was like, "Are you sure?" And I'm like, "Okay." And when they said they brought the little girl, she told, I started asking her questions about, you know, who was who? Like siblings, things like that. And I just started taking information from her.

And so what did she tell you about this other baby?

She was like, "This is the little girl." And I was like, "Something's not right." I just kept saying to my— I couldn't say it to her because I didn't want her to run.

Yes, of course. You were trying to be strategic.

I was trying to be strategic.

So did you ever meet this woman?

Yes.

You did meet her.

And what happened? She came outta barbershop. It was during COVID so I had a mask on. She told me, I came outside, I took the mask off, and she just kept walking in a circle around me like, "Mm, oh Lord, mm, oh." And I was like, she never took her mask off, so I'd never seen her face. But I seen the eyes and I was like, our eyes look alike. But I just sat there and I just kept asking questions.

While she's just walking around you?

She just kept walking around me. That solidified something for me.

What?

Either I look just like you and you don't want me to see, or you're nervous about something, or you really had two children for adoption.

Got it, okay. There's something strange about that whole interaction. Very. Which I know you felt as well. So how many years later did you find Shannon?

Yes. Yes, that's my baby girl.

So you think you found your biological mother, but now this information is in your head that there could be another sibling.

There could be another child.

And then how many years later did you find Sharon?

5.

5 years later.

I kept quiet to respectfully give my mother the opportunity to do what she needed to do. Because through the adoption they tell you the older siblings. So I knew I had Shannon.

Yes.

I didn't know her name, but I knew it was her. So I wanted respectfully, 'cause I'm a mother, Speak to your children, let them know.

Got it. So the adoption agency told you that you do have an older sister?

Mm-hmm.

Got it.

It's a my not identifying.

Got it, okay then. And so what was Shannon's reaction when you reach out? Because if somebody saw me on TikTok and said, "I'm your brother," I'ma block 'em. No.

I'ma block 'em.

Somebody come tell me that my dad has another daughter, uh-uh, you need to go on back.

You're blocking, I'm blocking, we're done. I'm not even entertaining, okay? But no, I'm glad she did not block.

She was like— Listen.

So what did she say?

She, it shook her. 'Cause she did not know about me.

Yes. And how's your relationship with Shannon now?

Man, that's my rider. She's sticking, I'm rolling.

Yeah.

I'm rolling, she's sticking. Yes sir. That's her right there.

So she confirmed that the woman who you met is her biological mother?

Yes.

She confirmed that?

Mm-hmm.

Did you ever get to see a photo with her without the mask?

Yes.

You did. And do y'all look alike? Twins.

Twins.

I'm just short. Short. Okay, so it was twins. Well listen, I think it's time to hear what Shannon has to say about all of this. So everyone please welcome Shannon to the show. Hey Shannon.

Hi.

Hey man.

Thank you.

How are you? Let me give you a hug.

Nice to meet you.

You as well.

Thanks for being here. Thank you.

My baby right here.

So tell me about the first time you heard from Joy.

So the crazy thing about it, it was homecoming weekend.

Oh yeah, okay.

So it was homecoming Friday. I was with a resident at a doctor's appointment and I was trying to kind of like waste time. So I got on TikTok. I wasn't familiar with TikTok much. So when I got on TikTok, I went to my inbox and I saw a message and I'm sitting there like, whoa.

Oh yeah.

And so my daughter was with me as well and my resident was kind of like, What's wrong? And I was like, somebody wrote me and said that they might be my sister. Yeah. You know, so I was kind of froze. I had kind of like mixed emotions and feelings. My 16-year-old grabbed, snatched my phone and she went to her page and I was like, don't do that. She gonna know that you viewed her profile. And you're on my page. And so she did look at it. She was like, oh baby, she look just like your mama. That's your sister. And I was like, wow. So when I looked at it, I was like, oh my God.

Yeah.

My first instinct wasn't to shun her because these things happen all the time. My ultimate goal was to embrace her.

Amen.

And be right there with her.

Yes.

So I never wanted to steer her away.

Yeah.

You know, anything like that. But the picture was solid for me. Okay. Looking at her face, I'm like, so I called my partner, I was like, hey listen, I think I got a sister. You know, so we kind of went from there.

That's amazing. So we have the message that Joyce sent you and I wanna see this. All right, so it says, I just so happen to be scrolling through TikTok and you appeared on my For You page. I've been on a personal journey to learn more about my biological family. I discovered relatives maternal side and I've had the opportunity to speak with blank, your grandfather's brother. He was kind enough to connect me with blank, whom I've met a few times in person. I've waited a long time for the chance to meet my siblings. If you ever feel open to talking, I would truly welcome that with open arms. Such a sweet message. Okay, I wanna turn this message away either. That's a very, you gave facts. When you said earlier, just get up there.

It was actually longer than that.

It was longer than that?

Yeah.

This is sweet. It gives like context. You like, no, I know people. I'm not just crazy off the street. So what was your reaction? I know you said you were like, oh my gosh.

Yeah, we had missed out on so much time. So my ultimate goal was to get that time back. But there was a problem for me.

Yes.

And the problem was she met with who a few times.

Okay.

So for me, I knew nothing about her ever. And so her meeting with her mom—

'Cause for her to meet your mom, yeah.

I knew nothing. She didn't come and say anything to me. So I was like, well, wait a minute, when was this meeting going on? So I did feel a type of way at the time.

Of course, if you found out your mama had met with a potential child in 2020 and never told you about it.

Right.

But she did tell you about another child that she had given up. Is that true?

Yes.

Okay, and so what did you know about that child?

So I met her when I was about 9 years old. I was told prior to that mom had given up a child for adoption. And so she lived kind of like in the area where I stayed at with my grandma. And so my dad started dating her adopted mom to get close to her. Oh wow. And so we, she knew me to be her stepsister at the time. Even as teenagers, you know, I would have her kids, she would have mine. You know, we were really close. Really close.

Yeah.

What did your mother have to say about Joy when you finally called her?

She really didn't give me an explanation, but she did not deny it either. I need for us to come together. You know, family's stronger together in unity.

Exactly.

I need us to be on one accord.

What's your relationship with your mother now?

It's, I mean, it's not the best, you know? But she knows that I'm here.

Is it because she feels ashamed?

I believe so, you know? So I just want her to know that we have the love that you really need, that you deserve, you know, that you may desire.

Oh my gosh, that's amazing. Do you think your mother gave up 2 babies for adoption though?

I don't know. But I wanna know, I don't know.

We gonna find out today.

Yeah, you gonna find out today. I am, when I tell you I am clueless. I don't know.

Yeah, okay then. Do you worry ever that Joy may not be your sister? I know you said they look alike, but I've seen on this show many times people look alike and they don't, they aren't related. So are you worried of what will happen if she's not?

I'm not worried because at the end of the day, she gonna be my sister regardless of what it says. And I'm gonna protect her and she got me forever.

'Cause what's the ages between y'all?

Like 3 years.

3 years.

I just turned 45 earlier this month.

You tell 'em my real name.

Yeah, y'all look young for it, OK? 3 years ago. Well, it looks like we're getting a ping, and it's from Joy's best friend, Ashley. Let's see what she has to say.

I have known Joy since the 7th grade, so we have been friends for more than 30 years or so. I do have a couple of doubts just because of, you know, some of the pushback that she has gotten. As a mother, I would think that at some point, if you know you gave your child away and your child does find you and reach out, that you would be a little bit more open to— you know, actually find out if yes, this is my child and try to build a relationship from here. Because I care about Joy the way that I do, I really, you know, I want her to be cautious and not get emotionally, you know, attached so soon, you know, and end up hurting in the end.

That makes sense what your best friend's saying. How do you feel about it?

Child. Nah, but I definitely understand. That's why I'm kind of like, okay.

Yeah, because I mean, like, that was the first thought we all had. Like, if the woman— if I've come I come around and I'm like, I'm your daughter. You know, like that's an easy opening because you weren't mad, you weren't judging, you know? But we also, what I appreciate about your perspective is the same perspective I usually have on this stage is like, we don't know what she experienced and we don't know how all of that informed how she's showing up in this moment. I think watching this and seeing her daughters together, you know, if you all are sisters, will be something that will help her heal. I believe so. So Joy, are you ready for the DNA truth?

Ooh, Father God.

Father God. Boy, come with me, come with me.

Oh my God.

We might have been around Tallahassee doing this a long time ago. I could have helped you, okay?

Listen.

Okay, but we here now. So listen, you have been searching for your biological family. You have found one person and you think you found your biological mother. And then just randomly being on TikTok, you see somebody and say, "That's my sister." And now you're on my stage to find out if the random person you saw on TikTok could be your actual sister. Little sister. In this envelope is your identity. It's the identity of who you are. This is your truth to open, not mine.

So good luck. Mm, mm, mm, mm. Shannon Renee, no matter what, we still gonna be sticking and rolling. You feel me? You hear me? And Mama, we been forgave you. Come on.

Oh my God. We already know, but what does it say?

I am her, she is me, Shanneryn Jaxson. Yes, sir.

Yes.

Hey.

You felt it.

It was a— when I seen her on TikTok again, like I said earlier, I have a good prayer life.

Yeah.

I grew up as a PK kid.

Yeah.

So I always know when you get a sign sense of peace over something. That is like your answer.

Yeah, he's right where he's supposed to be.

And when I seen her, that song on that video, Todd Dulaney, right? That's one of my favorite gospel songs. And it was right on time, 6 o'clock in the morning, it was right on time. Wow. And I was like, this is it. I don't care about, this is it right here.

Yeah.

Oh my gosh, this is unbelievable. She found her sister on TikTok. Found her sister. Your sister, your sister.

My sister. Your sister.

You made me a little taller though. Okay.

Listen, I'm so glad you all have each other. I can tell that you're in a space in your life where you needed this connection. I think you both are gonna grow stronger together. And I do believe that your bond will allow your mother to feel like she could put that wall down. And if you ever need any help with that, we're here for you, okay?

Thank you so much.

Congratulations.

Thank you for sharing your story with us. Thank you.

Everyone, make sure to come back next time, friends, so we can keep talking and growing. I love you all.