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Oprah Reunites With Her Birth Sister
Oprah Winfrey Reunites With Her Half Birth Sister
Oprah Winfrey revealed on her TV show today that she has a new birth family member – Patricia, her half birth sister (her sister’s last name was not revealed).
Apparently, Oprah’s birth mother gave Patricia up for adoption, shortly after her birth, but kept the adoption from Oprah. Oprah was nine years old and living with her father at that time. Oprah never knew her birth mother was pregnant.
Oprah’s birth sister lived in foster homes until she was 7—some of them “not so good.” By 17, she was a single birth mother, Patricia said, and six years later, she had another child. When she was 20, she searched for information about her birth mother and then let it go until years later.
Patricia said she started thinking Oprah might be her sister when she saw an interview with Oprah’s birth mother, Vernita Lee, on TV. The birth family information coincided with what she already knew about her family. “We realized that Oprah could be my sister,” Patricia said. She tracked down Oprah’s niece who is the daughter of Oprah’s other half-sister. The pair did a DNA test and they learned they were aunt and niece. That started the reunion process rolling with birth family members reaching out to Oprah who confirmed with her birth mother that the story was true.
Oprah said that the news of her birth sister literally shook her to her core. She thought that nothing could surprise her.
Through the years, Oprah Winfrey has reunited many birth family members on her TV show. She said, “This time, I’m the one being reunited.” Oprah shared home video of her reunion with her birth sister this past Thanksgiving when she and her partner Stedman Graham drove to Milwaukee to meet her birth sister. Oprah expressed why she admires her sister so much. She said that she has had many people betray her since she became a celebrity and she was moved by the fact that Patricia kept the story secret. “She never once thought about going to the press,” Oprah said. “She never thought once to sell the story.”
The birth sisters sat with their birth mother, Vernita Lee, and Oprah asked about her feelings about the family reunion. “I was shocked to know that she was trying to get in touch with me,” Lee said. “When I first heard about her, I wasn’t afraid but I was a little leery.”
Oprah said that after leaving her birth mother’s house that she realized Lee has been unable to fully embrace her new daughter because she is still carrying the shame of what she had done.
Oprah said, “I would like to say to our mother, you can let that shame go.” “You can let that go.”
Oprah said she chose to make the announcement about her birth sister herself so the media would not exploit it.
Oprah asked Patricia what has been the most rewarding part of the journey for her.
“Getting my family,” her birth sister said.
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Just want to say how much this story moved me
It gives me Hope, that I will one day find my father. It also let me know God can make anything possible. Dark familly secrets can come to light and God can turn them into an wonderful blessing. I thank Opera and her sister for shareing there story. God bless them and I will keep praying to God that the light will shine through for all others and myself. 
I believe that God will help me find my birth mother someday. I am hoping that it will be soon, because I am getting older and I don’t know if it is too late to find her. I was adoped when I was 11 and right now I am wondering where she maybe. I am hoping and praying. Deena
I cannot begin to express my response to hearing about Oprah and her new sister. I can relate to her sister saying she now feels whole. At my age, I, too, do not feel whole and need closure. God is a God of the impossible, and this has encouraged me to keep looking. I don’t think people really understand the selfishness of keeping secrets and the heartache is brings over the years. God is also the God of forgiveness.
I have so much to be thankful for in my life, but the hole is still open and burning to know where I came from. I love my adoptive family, but I need to have closure. No one seems to have any answers and have forgotten the answers they knew. I understand why people choose to forget, but the pain and emptiness it causes can not be forgotten or ignored by those of us whom it affects.
Im truly blessed that Oprah shared her story. Im grateful to God for allowing me to see it. I have two sisters that ive not seen or met personaly due to distance and finances; for the 1 sister Jennifer (california) who found us through having my dads death certificate with my mothers name on it via the internet,and my other sister Jessica because we have yet to find her. My older sister and cousin were going through some pictures of my aunt who passed away and found a picture of my babysister Jessica with my moms handwriting on it which had her date of birth on it, because my mom couldn’t remember it; it was so long ago and she washed her mind of it because of the pain and grief it caused her. I pray that even if she or her foster parents changed her name we are still able to find her. I have written to Oprah before to tell her our story but got scared that the letter would never reach her so i kept it to myself and made a bunch of copies to mail out to other talk show host in case Oprah didn’t consider airing it on her show. The story is very tragic still
and there are a lot of unanswered questions, unspoken words 
, and a lot of love 
to be given. We have a very large close knit happy family and we’ve yet to meet and be the bigger happier family we should be only because we have a few missing pieces…hopefully your company will share my family story with Oprah and I pray the lord touches her heart that she will help me bring my family together as she always does wonderful things for everyone she comes in contact with.
I wanted to do this same test and use the same company. I have researched and I cannot see to find out the name of the company that Oprah’s half sister used. Does anyone know. If so, please post.
Has anyone in Ontario, Canada used this site to search for an adoptee?
Hi Audrey. We have conducted many successful adoption searches in Ontario and can provide you references. Please give us a call at 1-888-965-6696 and chat with one of our search consultants.
Best,
Dana Betz
OmniTrace.com
my name is candy I live in Florence,ky i was adopated out when i was born my grandmother Gladys Wipfel got me when i was 9months old when i became deaf due to being abused in foster care.Since I have gotten older I know I have 11 broters and sisters that was also adopated out I would love to find my bio mothers name is Mary Webb she has always lived in covington or Newport,ky I have always knowed my bio mother but she will not tell me anything if there is anyone who can help me are if they know anything please let me know I would love to find my family you can find me on facebook please leave me a message thank you
I heard these stories and find them amazing. However, I have not gather the faith or strength to follow-up on my adoption. I have a special needs daughter. At birth, she had complications and my genetic background was in question.
I just received some social background on my biological mother from the state of Arkansas. I would like the oppoutunity to know her and my two older sisters. I am 46 years old, born in Little Rock, Arkansas. I think Oprah’s story has instilled some hope and motivation in me.
I had 5 siblings that were born in Virginia and all 5 were adoped my half sister Sally wanted to find her birth mother and her siblings she wrote to the Oprah tv show a long time ago to see if they would help her find her birth mother and her three sibling’s that she knew when she was 2 years old just before she was adopted they turned her down they would not let her on Oprah’S TV SHOW to find her family some time later in her life her adoped mother told her that she didnt know where her half sister’s and half brother was but that she has a full sister that she didnt know about born in 1961 and her name is Martha and she lives in CA. Sally called Martha and did there search to find the rest of there family Martha looked up the death record and found out that our mother died july 13 1986 if only oprah’s show would of helped Sally find her mother when she first asked for help are mother would of not died so young only 58 years old iam 64 the oldest of 7 children i still have two missing brother’s who were adoped at birth in norfolk va.1960 and portsmouth va.1969 sorry i dont know the month and day Virginia wont tell me they said that i have no rights because i was not adoped my full sister Donna born 1956 i found her 16 years ago i had to tell her that mom passed away she was 7 when she last saw mom. mom died of a broken heart
my name is michelle montgomery i was adopted when i was about six years old. my birth name was michelle williams and my birth mom was name carine williams. i really am searching for my family . i dont know if my biological mom is alive but i would really like to know. and i know i have other siblings. if anybody have any suggestion please contact me.
Grandmother name is Ida Tootise, over 100 yrs old to date
Grandfather name is Joseph Butello, over 100 yeard old to date
My natural father name appearing on my birth certifcate is James Massenburg, PA
I donot have birth dates or any other data at this time.