A remarkable twist of fate brought together two long-lost brothers separated by continents and decades of unknown shared heritage. This incredible event, which Frank McGrath likens to “winning the lottery”, was made possible by a DNA test conducted as part of a genealogy interest. For nearly 80 years, McGrath believed he was an only child, until the DNA test revealed the existence of a half-brother living thousands of miles away.
A DNA Surprise
Frank McGrath, a resident of Longueuil, Quebec, had spent the first 76 years of his life as an only child. His interest in genealogy led him to take a DNA test with MyHeritage, a popular genealogy company. In September 2024, he received a notification. The company had discovered a link to a half-brother, Frans Bannink, a 79-year-old living in Almelo, a city in the Netherlands. “This surprise was completely out of nowhere, with a very precise and strong match,” McGrath said. “I don’t think our father ever knew he had another child.”
Uncovering Shared History
Their late father, Staff Sergeant Dermot L. McGrath, had served in the army’s 4th Canadian Division during the Second World War and was part of the humanitarian efforts in the Netherlands post-war. Frank McGrath believes his father met Bannink’s mother during this time. Months later, Dermot McGrath was redeployed to Belgium, where he met and married Frank’s mother. Bannink was born in May 1946, and Frank McGrath in February 1948, presumably without either brother knowing of the other’s existence.
Emotional Reunion
Upon learning of his half-brother, McGrath was moved. “I was very touched, happy, emotional to know that I had a half-brother who, for my whole life, I didn’t know I had,” McGrath said. The brothers met for the first time in April 2025, in a reunion McGrath described as “tearful,” but “in a joyful sense.”
Growing Family Ties
The discovery of this newfound familial connection was also a joyous occasion for Bannink’s granddaughter, Amber Hogervorst. She persuaded her grandfather to take the DNA test and was thrilled to learn of her great-uncle’s existence. Bannink, initially hesitant to travel due to his age, visited Canada with Hogervorst to celebrate St. Nicholas Day with his newfound brother and extended family.
Building Connections
Although the families don’t know when they’ll see each other in person again, they maintain close contact via WhatsApp and FaceTime. Both brothers are learning each other’s languages, and Hogervorst, who is bilingual, often acts as a translator. McGrath continues his genealogy research, sharing any new discoveries about their shared history with Bannink.
“It’s important at our ages, late in our lives, to fill in the blanks because our parents never really talked about it,” McGrath said. “Learning this news has been like winning the lottery.”
