>> A TWIST OF FATE, A MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS LED THEM TO AN DIAGNOSIS LED THEM TO AN UNEXPECTED FAMILY MEETING. UNEXPECTED FAMILY MEETING. TAKE A LOOK. TAKE A LOOK. >> I GREW UP AS AN ONLY CHILD. >> I GREW UP AS AN ONLY CHILD. I ALWAYS WANTED SIBLINGS. I ALWAYS WANTED SIBLINGS. >> Reporter: WALT GORDY’S >> Reporter: WALT GORDY’S PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN HE WAS PARENTS DIVORCED WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND HE WAS RAISED BY HIS YOUNG AND HE WAS RAISED BY HIS MOTHER. MOTHER. >> I HAD A NICE CHILDHOOD. >> I HAD A NICE CHILDHOOD. >> Reporter: FIVE YEARS AGO AT >> Reporter: FIVE YEARS AGO AT 32 YEARS OLD WALT FOUND A LUMP 32 YEARS OLD WALT FOUND A LUMP ON HIS NECK. ON HIS NECK. DOCTORS DIAGNOSED HIM WITH DOCTORS DIAGNOSED HIM WITH LYMPHOMA. LYMPHOMA. >> IT WAS DEVASTATING. >> IT WAS DEVASTATING. I HAVE BEEN HEALTHY MY ENTIRE I HAVE BEEN HEALTHY MY ENTIRE LIFE, NEVER HAD HIGH BLOOD LIFE, NEVER HAD HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, NO DIABETES. PRESSURE, NO DIABETES. >> Reporter: NINE MONTHS LATER >> Reporter: NINE MONTHS LATER AFTER TREATMENT WALT WAS CANCER AFTER TREATMENT WALT WAS CANCER FREE. FREE. HE TOOK A 23ANDME TEST TO LEARN HE TOOK A 23ANDME TEST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HI MEDICAL HISTORY. MORE ABOUT HI MEDICAL HISTORY. >> MY RESULTS CAME BACK AND I >> MY RESULTS CAME BACK AND I HAD DNA RELATIVES. HAD DNA RELATIVES. I SEE MY MOM’S SIDE OF THE I SEE MY MOM’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY. FAMILY. BUT ON MY OTHER SIDE OF THE BUT ON MY OTHER SIDE OF THE FAMILY I DON’T HAVE ANY CLOSE FAMILY I DON’T HAVE ANY CLOSE RELATIVES. RELATIVES. >> AN ONLY CHILD, SOUTHEAST SIDE >> AN ONLY CHILD, SOUTHEAST SIDE OF HOUSTON. OF HOUSTON. I WOULD TEAR UP AND CRY I WOULD TEAR UP AND CRY SOMETIMES. SOMETIMES. ESPECIALLY I WENT TO CATHOLIC ESPECIALLY I WENT TO CATHOLIC SCHOOL. SCHOOL. WE WOULD HAVE FATHER-SON MASS. WE WOULD HAVE FATHER-SON MASS. EVERYBODY HAD THEIR DADS THERE EVERYBODY HAD THEIR DADS THERE AND I DIDN’T. AND I DIDN’T. >> Reporter: HE WAS RAISED BY >> Reporter: HE WAS RAISED BY HIS MOTHER. HIS MOTHER. HE WAS ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT HIS HE WAS ALWAYS CURIOUS ABOUT HIS FATHER. FATHER. AFTER THE BIRTH OF HIS SON HE AFTER THE BIRTH OF HIS SON HE TOOK A DNA TEST TO LEARN MORE TOOK A DNA TEST TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND THE RESULTS ABOUT HIS FAMILY AND THE RESULTS SHOCKED HIM. SHOCKED HIM. >> I SAW A PART THAT SAID DNA >> I SAW A PART THAT SAID DNA RELATIVES. RELATIVES. I CLICKED ON THAT. I CLICKED ON THAT. IT POPPED UP AND SAID WALT IT POPPED UP AND SAID WALT GORDON III. GORDON III. I SAID, MOM I KNOW HIM. I SAID, MOM I KNOW HIM. >> Reporter: TURNS OUT MARK NOT >> Reporter: TURNS OUT MARK NOT ONLY KNEW WALT FOR THE LAST 12 ONLY KNEW WALT FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS. YEARS. THEY WERE HALF-BROTHERS. THEY WERE HALF-BROTHERS. >> SO I CALLED HIM. >> SO I CALLED HIM. >> I PICKED UP THE PHONE. >> I PICKED UP THE PHONE. WHAT’S IP? WHAT’S IP? HE IS LIKE, WHAT’S GOING ON? HE IS LIKE, WHAT’S GOING ON? NOTHING TOO MUCH. NOTHING TOO MUCH. >> I WANT ON 23ANDME. >> I WANT ON 23ANDME. IN SHORT, IT SAYS YOU’RE MY IN SHORT, IT SAYS YOU’RE MY BROTHER. BROTHER. >> I SAID, NO. >> I SAID, NO. I SAID, I BEEN KNOWING YOU 12 I SAID, I BEEN KNOWING YOU 12 YEARS. YEARS. ARE YOU TELLING ME WE’RE ARE YOU TELLING ME WE’RE BROTHERS? BROTHERS? >> WHO DO YOU THINK RUNS FASTER >> WHO DO YOU THINK RUNS FASTER NOW? NOW? >> YOU. >> YOU. >> 35 YEARS LATER I FOUND OUT I >> 35 YEARS LATER I FOUND OUT I HAD A BROTHER. HAD A BROTHER. THAT’S PRETTY AMAZING TO ME. THAT’S PRETTY AMAZING TO ME. >> IN THE END THE PAIN, THE HURT >> IN THE END THE PAIN, THE HURT I BENTWENT THROUGH WAS WORTH IT I BENTWENT THROUGH WAS WORTH IT KNOWING THAT I HAVE A BLESSING KNOWING THAT I HAVE A BLESSING AT THE END. AT THE END. >> I CAN’T BELIEVE IT. >> I CAN’T BELIEVE IT. AND WE ARE JOINED BY MARK TOLSON AND WE ARE JOINED BY MARK TOLSON SENIOR AND WALTER GORDY III WITH SENIOR AND WALTER GORDY III WITH THEIR MOTHERS WINNIE AND BOOKER. THEIR MOTHERS WINNIE AND BOOKER. WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU. WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU. OUR MINDS ARE BLOWN. OUR MINDS ARE BLOWN. >> I KNOW. >> I KNOW. >> I’M SURE YOURS ARE, TOO? >> I’M SURE YOURS ARE, TOO? >> I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT >> I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO START HERE. WHERE TO START HERE. SO YOU THOUGHT HE WAS INVITING SO YOU THOUGHT HE WAS INVITING YOU TO A PARTY WHEN HE CALLED? YOU TO A PARTY WHEN HE CALLED? >> I DID. >> I DID. SO HE CALLED ME AND I SAW HIS SO HE CALLED ME AND I SAW HIS NAME POP UP ON MY CELL PHONE. NAME POP UP ON MY CELL PHONE. HE CALLS. HE CALLS. HE IS LIKE, HEY, HOW ARE YOU HE IS LIKE, HEY, HOW ARE YOU DOING? DOING? FINE. FINE. HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU? GOOD. GOOD. OKAY. OKAY. WHAT’S UP? WHAT’S UP? HE IS LIKE, YEAH, HAVE YOU EVER HE IS LIKE, YEAH, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THIS 23ANDME? HEARD OF THIS 23ANDME? I SAID, YEAH, I HEARD ABOUT IT. I SAID, YEAH, I HEARD ABOUT IT. I AM ON THERE, MY COUSIN’S ON I AM ON THERE, MY COUSIN’S ON THERE, MY MOTHER’S THERE. THERE, MY MOTHER’S THERE. I AM 82% WEST AFRICAN, 23% I AM 82% WEST AFRICAN, 23% EUROPEAN. EUROPEAN. HE SAID, I DID IT ABOUT SIX HE SAID, I DID IT ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO AND MY RESULTS CAME WEEKS AGO AND MY RESULTS CAME BACK TODAY. BACK TODAY. I SAID, COOL, WHAT DID YOU FIND I SAID, COOL, WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT? OUT? I LOOKED AT MY DNA RELATIVES AND I LOOKED AT MY DNA RELATIVES AND YOU ARE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. YOU ARE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. WALTER GORDY, HALF-BROTHER. WALTER GORDY, HALF-BROTHER. >> WOW. >> WOW. >> WHAT? >> WHAT? >> I KNOW. >> I KNOW. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE ALL THINKING. THAT’S WHAT WE’RE ALL THINKING. SO, MOMS, THERE WAS A DONOR, AN SO, MOMS, THERE WAS A DONOR, AN ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, BUT THE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION, BUT THE SAME DONOR. SAME DONOR. YOU BOTH JUST HAPPENED TO PICK YOU BOTH JUST HAPPENED TO PICK THE SAME DONOR? THE SAME DONOR? >> YES. >> YES. >> I MEAN, THAT’S PRETTY WILD >> I MEAN, THAT’S PRETTY WILD BECAUSE ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS, YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER? YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER? >> YES. >> YES. >> YES. >> YES. WE ACTUALLY SING IN THE SAME WE ACTUALLY SING IN THE SAME CHURCH CHOIR. CHURCH CHOIR. >> STOP IT. >> STOP IT. THIS IS LIKE A MOVIE. THIS IS LIKE A MOVIE. >> SINGING IN THE CHOIR TOGETHER >> SINGING IN THE CHOIR TOGETHER ALMOST NEXT TO EACH OTHER FOR, ALMOST NEXT TO EACH OTHER FOR, GOSH, 13 YEARS. GOSH, 13 YEARS. >> AND HAVE -- >> AND HAVE -- >> NO IDEA? >> NO IDEA? >> ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. >> ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA. >> DID YOU THINK THEY LOOKED >> DID YOU THINK THEY LOOKED ALIKE? ALIKE? >> NO, WE NEVER SAW THEM REALLY >> NO, WE NEVER SAW THEM REALLY TOGETHER. TOGETHER. >> HOW DID THEY TELL YOU GUYS >> HOW DID THEY TELL YOU GUYS THEN? THEN? MINE, BECAUSE THIS IS A -- I MINE, BECAUSE THIS IS A -- I MEAN, THIS IS A LOT. MEAN, THIS IS A LOT. THE SHORT VERSION OF THE STORY. THE SHORT VERSION OF THE STORY. >> I WAS AT THE HOUSE. >> I WAS AT THE HOUSE. MY MOM HAD COME TO THE HOUSE. MY MOM HAD COME TO THE HOUSE. SHE WAS ON THE WHICHAY TO CHOIR SHE WAS ON THE WHICHAY TO CHOIR PRACTICE. PRACTICE. I SAID, HEY MOM, THE RESULTS I SAID, HEY MOM, THE RESULTS CAME IN. CAME IN. WANT TO CHECK THEM OUT. WANT TO CHECK THEM OUT. I WAS LIKE, MOM, I KNOW HIM. I WAS LIKE, MOM, I KNOW HIM. LAKE IT SAYS HE IS MY LAKE IT SAYS HE IS MY HALF-BROTHER. HALF-BROTHER. THIS IS CRAZY. THIS IS CRAZY. >> I SAID, GO ON, BOY. >> I SAID, GO ON, BOY. >> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE AS A >> I CAN ONLY IMAGINE AS A MOTHER YOU WANT YOUR SONS TO BE MOTHER YOU WANT YOUR SONS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO LEAN ABLE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON. ON. TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT PART OF TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT PART OF IT, THE HEART OF ALL OF THIS, IT, THE HEART OF ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE WE ARE LAUGHING BUT BECAUSE WE ARE LAUGHING BUT ULTIMATELY THEY HAVE EACH OTHER ULTIMATELY THEY HAVE EACH OTHER NOW? NOW? >> YES, AND THAT IS VERY >> YES, AND THAT IS VERY CONSOLING BECAUSE INITIALLY WHEN CONSOLING BECAUSE INITIALLY WHEN I FIRST FOUND OUT, WALTER PHONED I FIRST FOUND OUT, WALTER PHONED ME AT WORK, AND I WAS STUNNED. ME AT WORK, AND I WAS STUNNED. BUT THEN I WAS VERY GRATEFUL BUT THEN I WAS VERY GRATEFUL BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS PRAYED HE BECAUSE WE HAVE ALWAYS PRAYED HE WOULD FIND THAT FRATERNAL PART WOULD FIND THAT FRATERNAL PART OF HIM. OF HIM. AND WE LOOKED AT IT TRULY AS A AND WE LOOKED AT IT TRULY AS A BLESSING FROM GOD BECAUSE OUR BLESSING FROM GOD BECAUSE OUR PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED. PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED. AND NOW TO HAVE MARK ANDIN HIS L AND NOW TO HAVE MARK ANDIN HIS L AND M.J., IT’S INCREDIBLE. AND M.J., IT’S INCREDIBLE. AND IT’S JUST A BEAUTIFUL JOY TO AND IT’S JUST A BEAUTIFUL JOY TO BOTH OF THEM THAT THEY HAVE ONE BOTH OF THEM THAT THEY HAVE ONE ANOTHER THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. ANOTHER THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. >> SO YOU GUYS LIKE EACH OTHER? >> SO YOU GUYS LIKE EACH OTHER? >> YEAH. >> YEAH. >> THAT’S FANTASTIC. >> THAT’S FANTASTIC. YOU ARE MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME. YOU ARE MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME. >> YEP. >> YEP. >> HOW DO YOU DO THAT? >> HOW DO YOU DO THAT? >> IT’S CRAZY. >> IT’S CRAZY. A LOT OF PEOPLE GROW UP AS A LOT OF PEOPLE GROW UP AS SIBLINGS AND HAVE THE FIGHTS AND SIBLINGS AND HAVE THE FIGHTS AND ALL THOSE THINGS. ALL THOSE THINGS. WE NEVER WENT THROUGH THAT. WE NEVER WENT THROUGH THAT. >> I HAVE SOMETHING IN RED THAT >> I HAVE SOMETHING IN RED THAT SAYS SLEEP OVER. SAYS SLEEP OVER. >> NOT AT MY HOUSE. >> NOT AT MY HOUSE. >> YEAH. >> YEAH. >> WELL, I RENT MY HOUSE AOUT TO >> WELL, I RENT MY HOUSE AOUT TO AIRBNB SOMETIMES. AIRBNB SOMETIMES. IT’S LIKE, COME BY, LET’S HANG IT’S LIKE, COME BY, LET’S HANG OUT. OUT. >> HOW IS YOUR HEALTH? >> HOW IS YOUR HEALTH? HOW ARE YOU DOING? HOW ARE YOU DOING? >> GREAT. >> GREAT. CANCER WAS THE BEST THING THAT CANCER WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE I FOUND A HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE I FOUND A BLESSING ON THE END. BLESSING ON THE END. MY TESTIMONY, I WILL CONTINUE TO MY TESTIMONY, I WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE IT THE REST OF MY LIFE. SHARE IT THE REST OF MY LIFE. I FEEL LIKE ANYBODY THAT HAS I FEEL LIKE ANYBODY THAT HAS CANCER, YOU CAN LOOK UP AND SEE CANCER, YOU CAN LOOK UP AND SEE SOMETHING BETTER AT THE END. SOMETHING BETTER AT THE END. >> MOM, I’LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE >> MOM, I’LL LEAVE YOU WITH THE LAST WORD. LAST WORD. WE HAVE THE TISSUES CLOSE BY. WE HAVE THE TISSUES CLOSE BY. WHAT IS IT ABOUT IT THAT BRINGS WHAT IS IT ABOUT IT THAT BRINGS TEARS TO YOUR EYES, THIS WHOLE TEARS TO YOUR EYES, THIS WHOLE THING? THING? FINDING OUT THE NEWS THAT YOUR FINDING OUT THE NEWS THAT YOUR SON WAS ILL? SON WAS ILL? FINDING OUT THE NEWS HE HAD A FINDING OUT THE NEWS HE HAD A BROTHER? BROTHER? WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST EMOTIONAL FOR YOU? THE MOST EMOTIONAL FOR YOU? >> IT’S A COMBINATION OF A FEW >> IT’S A COMBINATION OF A FEW THINGS. THINGS. AND TO JUST SOLVE IT ALL, IN MY AND TO JUST SOLVE IT ALL, IN MY OPINION, IS DIVINE INTERVENTION OPINION, IS DIVINE INTERVENTION FROM GOD. FROM GOD. AND WITH WALTER HAVING THE AND WITH WALTER HAVING THE EXTRACTION, THAT WAS A REASON WE EXTRACTION, THAT WAS A REASON WE WENT ON 23ANDME TO SEE IF WE WENT ON 23ANDME TO SEE IF WE COULD PERHAPS FIND A POSSIBLE COULD PERHAPS FIND A POSSIBLE DONOR IF IT ACTUALLY CAME TO DONOR IF IT ACTUALLY CAME TO THAT. THAT. SO HAVING THE TOOLS FOR HIM TO SO HAVING THE TOOLS FOR HIM TO NOW MOVE ON, HE IS CANCER FREE. NOW MOVE ON, HE IS CANCER FREE. WE HAVE ONE MORE CRITICAL YEAR WE HAVE ONE MORE CRITICAL YEAR OF SURVIVAL LEFT. OF SURVIVAL LEFT. AND I JUST FEEL IT’S JUST A AND I JUST FEEL IT’S JUST A BLEGS AND FAITH BROUGHT US THIS BLEGS AND FAITH BROUGHT US THIS FAR AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE FAR AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE US ON ALL THE WAY. US ON ALL THE WAY. >> IT’S A VERY WONDERFUL FEELING >> IT’S A VERY WONDERFUL FEELING TO KNOW THAT HE HAS FOUND TO KNOW THAT HE HAS FOUND SOMEONE THAT HE CAN LEAN ON, WHO SOMEONE THAT HE CAN LEAN ON, WHO IS OF HIS OWN BLOOD. IS OF HIS OWN BLOOD. HE KNOWS ALL OF MY FAMILY, BUT HE KNOWS ALL OF MY FAMILY, BUT HE DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE IN HIS HE DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE IN HIS FATHER’S FAMILY. FATHER’S FAMILY. BUT I’M SO HAPPY. BUT I’M SO HAPPY. >> GOD BLESS YOU GUYS.
