Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Meena and Minal

Reuters Wires

Meena and Minal were left as infants at orphanages in India and grew up in different adoptive families in the Netherlands, just a short drive apart. Now, 40 years later, a DNA test has shown that the friends are biological sisters. Growing up, neither was aware that they had a sister. Then, as teenagers in 1996, while living just 100 miles (130 km) apart, they crossed paths at a gathering for adopted children and felt an unusually strong connection.Their friends were amazed by their likeness and the girls swapped addresses. In correspondence, they jokingly called each other &#x27;sis&#x27; before losing touch for 15 years.&quot;For years, I felt a hole in my heart,&quot; said Meena Geltink, 43, a mother of three, struggling to put words to her overwhelming feeling of joy. &quot;It&#x27;s like a missing puzzle piece has been found.&quot;Geltink told her sister on Tuesday (August 11) at an emotional reunion in the Netherlands: &quot;When I see you, it&#x27;s like I&#x27;m home.&quot; Since discovering their relationship through a MyHeritage DNA test in April, the sisters have spent hours every day talking and messaging. They had each separately gone through the DNA tests to find out if they had biological relatives and were stunned when it revealed they were sisters.Minal Tijssen, 44, said she had no record of any birth relatives. She felt loved growing up with Dutch parents and siblings, but at the same time described a deep loneliness.Tijssen, who lives in France with her partner and two sons, was sitting on the couch in April when a pop-up on her phone said her DNA results were in.  &quot;&#x27;Meena: Sister.&#x27; I couldn&#x27;t believe it.&quot;<div>(Camera and production: Marta Fiorin)</div>

Meena and Minal were left as infants at orphanages in India and grew up in different adoptive families in the Netherlands, just a short drive apart.

Meena and Minal were left as infants at orphanages in India and grew up in different adoptive families in the Netherlands, just a short drive apart.

DNA test reunites sisters after decades as friends

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DNA test reunites sisters after decades as friends

Reuters

Published August 13, 2026 01:27 AM PHT

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DNA test

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