A North Carolina man who spent his life believing he was an only child celebrates Christmas with his enormous family, including two brothers and a sister he has never met.
Dixon Handshaw was adopted as a baby in Buffalo, New York, and raised in Elmira.
He grew up without the connection of siblings, but always wondered what it would be like to have a family he could call his own.
At age 75, a simple decision unraveled a truth that had eluded him for decades and changed his life just in time for the holidays.
“All my life I’ve dreamed of having siblings somewhere,” Handshaw admitted 13WHAM. ‘This is my Christmas miracle. That’s what I call it.’
It all started in mid-August when Handshaw decided to obtain his pre-adoption birth certificate, which lists the details of an adoptee’s birth, including their name, date of birth, city or state of birth and the names of the adoptive parents. .
He expected to discover fragments of his past, perhaps a name or a date, but instead he discovered an entire family waiting for him – including biological brothers and sisters who had no idea he existed but were willing to meet him openly. arms to embrace.
The moment of a lifetime came when Handshaw stepped off the plane at Rochester airport to meet his unknown family for the very first time.
Dixon Handshaw, 75, center, met his two brothers, Jeff Romig, left, Wendy Gell and Gary Romig, right, for the first time in his life on Thursday
Dixon will meet 55 of his new found family members over the Christmas period. Pictured, Romig’s family photo from decades gone by
It was an emotional meeting as Dixon, centered, hugged his three siblings for the first time
Waiting for him were two of his biological brothers, Gary and Jeff Romig, and his sister, Wendy Gell.
The first meeting in the baggage claim at the Rochester airport Thursday was nothing short of extraordinary. “It felt like Christmas morning,” Gell said.
“It’s so special because he’s very emotional and excited and can’t believe we’re opening our arms to him and welcoming him into the family.”
Handshaw had been apprehensive at first, fearing rejection or simply awkwardness.
“My biggest hesitation was that I didn’t want to intrude on people,” he admitted. “I didn’t know if they would be happy that I was there or not.”
But such fears proved unfounded in a phone call that changed his life in an instant.
Romig remembers the moment vividly. ‘I was having lunch at work when my phone rang. It was a number I didn’t recognize, and I usually didn’t answer. But for some reason I answered,” he said.
‘He says, “Hello, my name is Dixon. Are you Gary Romig?” I said, “I am.” Then he says, “I’m your brother.” And I’m like, “What?”
Dixon ran to hug his sister, Wendy Gell, left in the baggage claim at Rochester Airport
Dixon hugged his newfound sister, Wendy Gell, for the very first time on Thursday
Stunned, the two men chatted with Handshaw for hours and sent Romig a photo of themselves.
When Romig shared it with the family, including his own five siblings, the resemblance was uncanny.
“We’ve seen it all,” Romig said. ‘He has the characteristics of our father. There was no doubt about it.’
By Christmas, Handshaw not only met a pair of siblings, but entered a new world.
Handshaw, left, sent a photo of himself to his brother. The family agreed it looked just like their father, right?
“I’m not going to waste my time having this new family. I couldn’t be happier,” Handshaw said, eyes wide. ‘After all these years of wonder, I finally feel complete.’
Many tears were shed as the three siblings met their long-lost brother for the very first time
Over the holidays, he will meet as many as 55 new family members, all eager to connect with the man who was missed in their lives without any of them realizing it.
“I’m not going to waste my time having this new family. I couldn’t be happier,” Handshaw said, eyes wide.
‘After all these years of wonder, I finally feel complete.’