The fascination of our ancestry and the secrets it holds is something many of us are eager to explore, with hopes of unlocking hidden chapters of our family’s narrative, potentially unveiling relatives we had no idea about. That’s exactly what Lorraine Williams experienced after using MyHeritage, a genealogy platform offering DNA tests, leading her to find two half-siblings: “I was just so, so excited. I can’t put it into words. Just awesome.”
For those itching to embark on a similar quest of discovering family, a tempting deal awaits. MyHeritage is currently offering a 58% discount on the DNA kit, reducing the cost from £79 to £33, with the price including a complimentary 30-day full-access trial.
The kit boasts a simple cheek swab test that takes a mere two minutes to complete before being sent to MyHeritage’s laboratory in the provided envelope. Customers can anticipate receiving their results online within a month.
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As reported by Bristol Live, MyHeritage has seen a surge of individuals delving deep into their genealogical pasts, reconnecting with their roots extending across 2,114 geographic regions, curating virtual family trees, and sifting through an immense archive of 34 billion historical records. Additionally, the app offers the ability to revitalise old, sepia and black and white photos with its Deep Nostalgia tools and photo kits.
The fascination with online DNA testing and genealogical exploration has seen a sharp incline, as individuals turn to the internet to delve into their family history. 23 and Me is another site offering similar services, with a price reduction on its Health +plus Ancestry Service which now costs £119 down from £159.
Ancestry is another option, with subscriptions starting from £10.99 per month for UK records and £19.99 per month for worldwide record access. For some people, MyHeritage has helped them locate relatives they had no prior knowledge of, finally answering pressing life-long questions.
One such user, Lorraine Williams, who hails from Liverpool but was raised in Canada since the age of two, successfully used MyHeritage to unite with two half-siblings via her paternal lineage.
Lorraine’s genetic analysis revealed she had a half-sister, Josie, 13 months older than her and previously unaware of her father. She went on to find Jimmy, the younger half-brother who bore an uncanny resemblance to her father.
Recounting Josie’s story in a blog for MyHeritage, Lorraine said: “All she knew about her father was that his name appeared on her baptism certificate and he probably knew that she existed – but beyond that, she knew nothing.”
She expressed her surprise at finding Jimmy to the Daily Mail, stating: “I was blindsided, gobsmacked, just absolutely astonished.” Much like Josie, Jimmy had spent his formative years in foster care and expressed his delight at discovering a connection: “I always thought my family started with me, and I was just delighted to find out the news”.
MyHeritage shared Lorraine’s inspiring story of self-discovery, and she reflected on how her siblings had overcome their complicated early lives to carve their own success stories. Lorraine added: “In spite of their challenging childhoods, both my siblings have done well in life. I started a WhatsApp group for our expanded family, and we share events and chat every day.”
Lorraine expressed her heartfelt thanks to the genealogy service, stating: “If I hadn’t uploaded my DNA to MyHeritage, we would still be unaware of each other’s existence. I love my new expanded family. And I have MyHeritage to thank for all of it. Thank you, MyHeritage.”
Josie echoed these feelings, remarking: “We wouldn’t have met without MyHeritage, and I just want to say a huge thank you to them. They’ve been amazing.”
Speaking to Daily Mail, Jimmy shared his satisfaction with the discovery: “I feel whole now. Now we know our heritage, I can tell my kids all about it, and we all have something to connect to, and they’re all so happy to have two aunties out of it too.”
Lorraine, Josie, and Jimmy are among many who have found success with MyHeritage, as plenty of five-star reviews confirm its efficacy. An enthusiast of the platform said: “This is an interesting experience, finding all sorts of ancestors from all over the world. People I would never have known about without MyHeritage.”
Another user delighted in their findings: “I’m always pleasantly surprised when I view results of matches from other countries where the descendants of my family exist in another family tree. MyHeritage has found family members dating back 400 years, and that’s exceptional. Great application.”
While many users are pleased with MyHeritage, one admitted to some challenges: “I love MyHeritage, I have repeatedly found ancestors through other trees on this site. But, sometimes, I do find it hard to navigate. I think that trying to add or rework my tree is sometimes hard to do.”
Nonetheless, another user was content with the platform’s capabilities: “Work’s very well, finds more relatives than you could ever guess.”
To benefit from MyHeritage’s current offer, a substantial 58% discount is available for those who visit their website here. Moreover, MyHeritage is providing free shipping with the use of promo code PLC10 until the end of June.