In this episode of KARAMO, host Karamo mediates a deeply emotional family reconciliation between Mia, who has spent decades questioning her paternity, and Titi, a woman who may be her half‑sister. Mia recounts a childhood marked by uncertainty: her mother claimed another man was her biological father, while her mother's husband refused a paternity test, creating a sense of abandonment and unequal treatment compared to her siblings. She later met a man she believed might be her father, but that relationship never materialized. In 2017, Mia connected with Titi after a mutual family member introduced them; they met at a restaurant, shared an immediate bond, and began building a sisterly relationship despite resistance from other siblings on both sides. Titi discovered the connection through a Facebook message and confirmation from their shared father, who, however, declined to appear on the show. Both women express relief, hope, and lingering anxiety about DNA test results that could confirm or refute their sibling relationship. Karamo guides the conversation, highlights themes of abandonment, fear of loss, and the desire for closure, and extends an invitation to the absent father to engage in healing. The episode culminates in emotional relief for Mia, optimism for acceptance from extended family, and a reaffirmation of support from the show’s platform.
Chapters
When did you start to question who your father is?
It always been a question since I could remember. It been a question. My mother always said someone else was my father besides her husband.
You call him your mother's husband, so you didn't have a relationship?
Sort of off and on. Not anything I would say like daughter-daddy relationship. It was a lot of disconnect there.
Did your mother's husband ever deny being your father?
No.
No.
No, I remember 10 years ago I asked him for a blood test and he told me no. He said he didn't need the blood test to tell him that I was, you know, his daughter. So he wouldn't do it.
I got it.
And my mother was very adamant about the other man being my father.
So though your mother's adamant, the man that was in your life is still like, nope, I don't need it, you're my daughter.
Yes, correct.
So why is there a disconnect in your relationship?
Because I felt like he's treated my other sibling a little bit better than me. When there was an option to stay with him, I was not allowed to do so. Got it. So I think that's where the disconnect came from.
That makes sense. So lingerings of abandonment.
Absolutely.
So that it takes away from your feeling as if like, oh, you say that you want me, but when you had opportunity to choose me, you didn't.
Exactly.
Understand. So when did you find out that there was a possibility that another man was a father?
I don't know, probably 6, maybe 7.
7, yeah.
I remember meeting him. I remember her taking me to meet him. I remember him giving me $5, him telling me he was gonna come get me, only to never do so.
And what did your mother tell you about him? I know you met him, but what did she say about him?
That they had an affair multiple times and there was no possibility that her husband could be, and that's what she always said. And she said that until the day she passed.
Got it. And so with this man that you met a couple of times, Do you have a good relationship with him now?
No, I have no relationship with him. I spoke with him maybe 3 times as I recall.
And I heard you say in your memory that as a child he said, "I'll be back," and he never was.
He never came.
Got it. So then that also sticks with you as well. Absolutely. Yeah. So when did you find out about your potential sister?
So I met TT in 2017, but a family member of mine, told me about her prior to that and I reached out to her. She wanted to meet, she lives in a different state. So we met at the Cheesecake Factory in Baltimore. I was nervous.
That's my little restaurant right there. Y'all stop playing, okay?
I was nervous. I just didn't know.
Of course.
And I know that he has a lot of daughters, but I wanted to do it just in case she is my sister. You know, I wanted to know that.
How did you feel the first time you met?
I was nervous at first, but she was so sweet and so nice and just so open. And she calls me baby sis. And to her, I'm her sister despite what her other siblings may think. She still decided to have a relationship with me.
Oh man, that is special. We have a photo of you two that my producers want me to see. Aw, look at y'all.
Yeah, we was at the gym. She's hit back home. And that was the first time we met.
Yeah.
And we cried and we hugged.
Yeah. It was a special moment.
And it just felt good, you know? It felt good to have that part of me.
So on your mother's side, do you have other siblings?
I do. I have 3 other siblings.
And you're close with them?
No.
Not close?
I'm not. And that's just childhood drama. Like I said, being treated definitely than my sibling that could possibly have the father as me.
And then with this sister, with Titi, does she have siblings on her side?
She does.
And you said that they have doubts about you?
Yes, and apparently I just found out a couple months ago that they're not even talking to her because she wants to have a relationship with me.
Wow, what doubts do you have about Titi being your sister?
I don't think that me and Titi looks alike.
So what will you do if TT is not your sister?
I don't know.
Yeah, yeah.
I'm not sure.
Yeah. What's making you emotional right now?
Oh my God, that's, ah. My mother was so adamant about this man being my father. And I think that him possibly not being my father would cause more pain.
Well, I'll tell you, whatever happens today, I'm glad that you chose me to be here because I can help you navigate any of those emotions. But I also think it's time to meet Titi. Your potential sister and hear her side of the story. So everyone, please welcome Titi to the show.
I love you.
I love you.
Hi, Titi. How you doing?
I'm well. How are you?
I'm good, thank you. Thank you for being here. So how did you find out about Mia?
I found out about Mia We have a family member that we're mutual with and I guess they were talking and my name came up and she decided to contact me on Facebook.
Oh nice.
So she messaged me and she said, "Is so-and-so your dad?" I said yes. And she was like, "Well, I'm Mia, I'm your sister." So she called me like 6 o'clock in the morning. So I opened my eyes, I'm like, "Yeah, my sister, wait, what?" So I went to Facebook and I found her and I called my aunt who knows everything about everything.
She does. There's always that one aunt that know everything about everything. Yeah, there are.
So I called her and she said, yep, Mia is definitely your sister.
Oh, wow.
So I called my dad and I'm like, hey, this girl called me.
Is she ours?
And he was like, yes, she's ours.
Oh, wow.
And did he hesitate?
He did not hesitate at all. And we met and we've been inseparable ever since.
How did you feel when you heard about her?
Emotions running through my body, like, is she, isn't she? I'm happy that she's here. But then what if she's not?
Yeah. Mia was saying that your other siblings might have disowned you or not talking to you. Is that true?
Oh yeah, they're no longer talking to me since 2017 when I actually met her.
What would be their issue with you trying to grow a relationship with another child who had nothing to do with any of this? That's nothing to do with it.
I have no idea.
How old were you exactly when you found out about Mia and I, when you got that call?
About like 47.
47, so yeah, okay then. Wow, so you went your entire life without hearing anything and not knowing any of this? So what do these DNA results mean to you?
Well, I mean, she's already my sister regardless. It would just mainly be confirmation. But I'm more concerned about her feeling because she's kind of incomplete. She doesn't know where she belongs, where she came from. So if she's not, then that's gonna start her whole cycle all over again. So it's more for her, like not mine.
If the DNA truth shows that she is your sister, do you think your other siblings would then accept her or maybe speak back to you?
No, they won't.
You don't think so?
Why?
You guys are idiots. I don't know, they're just like that.
What do they think they're gonna lose if they gain a sister?
Maybe they don't wanna share our dad, I don't know.
I don't know.
Because usually when siblings make choices like that, there's a fear of of loss. There's something that they feel like, I'm going to lose if you're accepted in. Something that's going to, I'm either gonna have to lose a memory, I'm gonna have to lose this belief of how my family was structured. I'm gonna have to lose something. I'm gonna lose a bit of the relationship with my father. I'm gonna have to share him. There's a sense of a loss there. Not realizing that actually you're gonna gain more. You'll gain more if there's a sibling there. You're gonna gain more love. You're gonna gain more memories. You're gonna be opportunity to learn more about yourself through someone who you're related to. You said your mother is, is she still alive?
No, my mother passed.
She passed away. How long ago did she pass?
2022.
Yeah, okay then. I just wanna tell everyone that your father did refuse to come on the show. Yeah. How does that make you feel to know that?
I was confused. Yeah. I wanted him to understand it's not because I want something from you.
Yeah.
I'm at the age that we don't have to worry about child support. I don't have questions about why you didn't. I just wanna know why. I don't know.
Well, listen, you have waited 42 years, so I think it's time to unlock this DNA truth. Mia, you have had questions, you've had doubts, and it's caused strains in your relationships. This is your truth to open, not mine. So here you go.
Damn. You good?
Take your time.
I thought I was ready.
Yeah.
It's okay.
I wanted to let you know that you are surrounded by love and support. Anything that you need in this moment, we are here for you.
You know, I got so much family. Okay, then my mother, like I loved.
It's okay.
I love you.
I got you.
It's okay.
I already knew it.
I knew it.
So hopefully—
How do you feel right now?
My mother lives out in Jersey.
Oh my God.
So hopefully now our other sisters will finally accept you and we can move forward from here.
What's going through your mind?
Oh my God.
I'm happy.
Yeah.
Yes.
I'm relieved. I'm just happy. I am. You did forever.
I gotta tell you this because, you know, as I was writing notes about what you were saying to me, I was tracking that, you know, there's been a lot of moments of abandonment, which have probably affected the way you trust and other relationships in your life. And what I'm hoping is that by having this, now you have some answers and also having a sister that showed up for you.
Yeah, of course.
And has been there no matter what. When someone else has said, "No, I'm not gonna be there," she has stuck by your side. I hope this starts to remind you that the security that you've always wanted You have, you have, you have, and it will build more. And I would also, if you're okay with this, would like to make an invitation to your father. Sir, you have two beautiful daughters on this stage, and I don't know if you know this about me and my show, but it's all about healing families and making sure that people can come together. And so if you want an opportunity to navigate this conversation and meet the amazing daughter that you have, the amazing young woman you have, please know that I'm here to help you with that. Because you deserve that. You deserve your answers. You deserve to understand why, and you deserve full closure. And I'm glad you got a piece of that closure today.
Yeah.
Yeah. Seriously. I'm so happy for y'all. I'm so happy.
I got a million emotions going through me.
I know. Yeah. I'm just so thankful that you put your trust in me to do this with you. I really do. I thank both of y'all. Of course. You're so welcome. Listen, everyone at home, thank you for being with us. Make sure to come back next time, friends, we can keep talking and growing. I love you all. I love you all.
