2 weeks ago
Adopted Indian-origin friends for 30 years discover they are sisters
A long time ago, two baby girls were left at an orphanage in India.
Two different families who lived in the Netherlands adopted them.
The girls grew up not knowing that each of them had a sister.
In 1996, they met at a gathering for adopted children.
They felt a special connection right away, and friends noticed how much they looked alike.
They exchanged addresses and jokingly called each other "sis," but lost touch for about 15 years.
Years later, Minal took a home DNA test.
The test showed that she and her old friend are actually blood sisters — a 100% match.
When they reunited in the Netherlands, there were tears, hugs, laughter, and their very first selfie together.
Minal Tijssen, 44, and Meena Geltink first met as teenagers in 1996 at a gathering for adopted children in the Netherlands.
Both were left as infants at an orphanage in India and adopted by different Dutch families some 40 years ago.
They grew up about 100 miles (160 km) apart (one account says a short distance) and lost contact for about 15 years.
A MyHeritage DNA test taken by Minal in April returned a 100% sibling match with Meena, whom she did not initially recognize.
Their reunion in the Netherlands was filled with tears, hugs and laughter and included their first selfie as sisters.
- Who
- Minal Tijssen (44) and Meena Geltink, Indian-origin women adopted separately as infants by different Dutch families.
- What
- They discovered they are biological blood sisters after a MyHeritage DNA test returned a 100% sibling match.
- Where
- Both were born in India, adopted and raised in the Netherlands, where they reunited; Minal now lives in France.
- When
- They first met in 1996; the DNA test results came in April, roughly 30 years after they met.
- Why
- Both were left at Indian orphanages as infants and adopted by different families; a DNA test revealed their biological connection.
Key facts
- Sisters
- Minal Tijssen and Meena Geltink
- Age
- Minal Tijssen is 44
- First met
- 1996, at a gathering for adopted children
- Friendship
- About 30 years, with a 15-year gap in contact
- Adoption
- Both left as infants at an orphanage in India nearly 40 years ago
- DNA test
- MyHeritage; 100% sibling match, results received in April
- Where they grew up
- About 100 miles (160 km) apart; one report says a short distance
- Reunion location
- Netherlands
Quotes
Minal Tijssen
44‑year‑old Dutch adoptive sister
“When I see you, it's like I'm home. For years, I felt a hole in my heart. It's like a missing puzzle piece has been found”
NDTV
“We were friends before we were sisters. We were sisters the whole time, but we didn't know”
NDTV
