The holiday season is the happiest time of the year. Gifts are perhaps one of the best aspects of holidays, and this is the perfect time to show your loved ones you care with thoughtful presents. But what 10-year-old Audrey Doering desired was not something that could be ordered and purchased on the Internet. Instead of brushing it off, Audrey’s mother gave her the surprise of a lifetime.
Searching for Somebody Special
Jennifer and Tom Doering were content in Wisconsin with their three lovely sons. Despite all of the wonderful moments and memories they were making as a family, they felt there was something missing! They realized they wanted a little girl to complete their family. As a family, they began to discuss this.
Soon, the family made a conscious decision to adopt a baby girl. They looked everywhere! After not getting positive results in their own country, they started to consider the idea of adopting a child from another country. And that is how they ended up in China.
Audrey was Adopted in 2007
August of 2007 was a summer that changed the lives of Doerings and their family. They were hoping to expand their family, and they were successful in making that wish come true. They finally found the perfect match but on the other side of the world. That was when they saw 15-month-old Audrey and realized that this little child could bring them the happiness they were looking for.
Audrey instantly became a special member of the Doering family after they adopted her as their baby from China. However, the beginning was not a smooth and joyful transition.
Frail and Small
When the Doerings were looking for a sweet daughter to adopt, they were willing to consider adopting a child with a disability or illness. When they were adopting Audrey, they were aware of Audrey’s small structure and frailty. They were also told that Audrey, at 15 months, couldn’t walk yet.
They also knew that because of her delayed development, she was classified as a “special needs” child by the adoption agency. Even though these didn’t stop the Doerings from falling in love with her, there were a few other secrets about Audrey that perhaps the family would have to discover on their own.
“This Is Our Little Girl”
Jennifer had fallen in love with Audrey long before she had the opportunity to meet her in person. Jennifer recollected how she remembers walking upstairs and seeing Audrey’s picture. She instantly called her husband and exclaimed that they found their little girl by shouting, “This is our little girl,'” Jennifer shared this experience with ABC News with tears in her eyes.
Jennifer and Tom were clearly prepared to care for and provide for little Audrey, but that didn’t mean it was easy to deal with what was coming their way emotionally or mentally. Especially since they discovered, Audrey was acutely unwell when they adopted her.
Sick, Sweet, and Innocent
While they were prepared to accept a special needs child, Audrey was quickly diagnosed by doctors in the United States, proving that poor baby Audrey was much weaker than they had been led to believe. Jennifer later shared with ABC News how their little girl would go a week without smiling! It’s heartbreaking to see a sweet, innocent child sick and in pain, even if it’s not your own!
Audrey, it turned out, had a heart condition. The Doerings were devastated when they found out. But after being officially adopted and arriving in the United States, she needed not one but two heart surgeries.
Audrey Was Able to Fight Through
Despite having had a difficult first few years of her life, the ambitious and resilient Audrey persevered! Although it was hard for her. Still, she fought these battles very bravely. She hasn’t had or needed any other major procedures since, and she’s grown up to be a happy little girl. She and her family were able to finally be at peace and enjoy their time together.
After surviving that adversity, the lovely family progressed as a whole, and Audrey grew to be a happy and active child. But, deep down, beneath all the happiness and gratefulness, she felt as if something was lacking.
Audrey’s Christmas Wish
Growing up with three brothers is guaranteed to make any girl intrigued about what it would be like to have a sister, no matter how close she would have been to her brothers. The same thing happened with Audrey, too! She also wanted to experience what it is like to have a sister. As a result, she asked her parents for a sister for Christmas in 2016.
As lovely and precious as that request was, we all understand as adults that trying to add another family member isn’t as simple as dialing a number and waiting for the stork to arrive with a baby out on the door.
Feeling as if Something is Missing
Audrey felt at home and safe with her two loving parents and older, protective brothers, and the family enjoyed spending time together. Yet, deep down, she kept feeling as if something was missing from her life. She was confused as to what it could be that could make her feel fulfilled in life.
As she grew older, it became clear that it wasn’t so much a lack of something as it was a lack of someone in her life. Even though Audrey’s mother didn’t say anything, she decided it was time to get her something a little different than a traditional Holiday gift that year.
A Mother is Aware
From the very beginning, Audrey quickly became an important member of the Doering family. Regardless of how happy you are with your adoptive family, a question about your biological parents will linger in the back of your mind. So soon, even Audrey became curious about these things. However, there was very little information available.
Audrey’s mother, Jennifer, was aware of and comprehended this. So, just before Christmas in 2016, Audrey’s mother decided to surprise her with a bit of her own research about the history and background of Audrey’s life in China prior to adoption. However, it is almost easier said than done.
Discovering the “Finding Ad”
Let’s face it: Who wouldn’t want to learn more about their child’s past? Even Jennifer wanted to find out a little about her daughter’s background. As time went by, she became more and more curious about Audrey’s background, so she began her own little investigation.
Jennifer was determined to give her beloved Audrey a copy of the “finding ad” – an article and ad that is published when an abandoned child is found in China – for Christmas that year. She had no idea that she would learn a lot more about Audrey’s birth story than she had anticipated.
Coming Into Contact with a Researcher
Despite being curious about what lay in Audrey’s past, Jennifer was focusing on looking for the “Finding Ad” that was posted in China years ago when they were on the search for a girl to adopt.
Jennifer told ABC News that she simply wanted that bit of history for her. She reached out to a research organization named ResearchChina.org for that. Luckily, Jennifer was able to establish contact with the organization, where she located a researcher who was able to unearth not one but two essential surprises.
Another Door to Audrey’s Past
Jennifer was going to strike gold without even knowing it! Apart from locating and sending Jennifer a copy of her daughter Audrey’s Finding Ad, the researcher she got in contact with also had another option she could look into.
This alternate door to open up Audrey’s past revealed some pictures of her as a baby in China. Audrey’s parents didn’t think for a moment before purchasing the pictures and were totally shocked and baffled upon receiving such rare bits of Audrey’s past.
Searching for Answers
Adoption is hard – for both the child and the parent(s). For any parent who has adopted a child and every child that has been adopted, mustering the courage to find the answers to their questions isn’t an easy feat.
So, if they ever want to investigate and check, they must keep in mind a list of possible outcomes – both wanted and unwanted. You may not find anything at all, you may find everything easily, the results may make you uncomfortable, or you may just be pleasantly relieved with your find. The Doering family wasn’t aware of the emotional and life-changing rollercoaster they were in for.
First Time Seeing Those Photos
Jennifer was one step closer to knowing more about Audrey’s history. The mother’s original plan consisted of her giving Audrey just the “Finding Ad” as a Christmas present, but now she had gotten her hands on some new, not-seen-before baby pictures as well. What a package!
However, when her eyes fell on the photos, Jennifer could hardly believe what she was looking at. She explained her initial reaction in an interview with ABC News. She bought the photos, and the couple opened them in an email. They were completely taken aback by what popped up.
A “Crazy” Thing
As Jennifer downloaded the picture on her computer, she waited to see what she had found. It was an adorable picture of baby Audrey seated on her foster mom’s knee. But the real shocker was the person sitting right next to her.
Another baby was sitting next to baby Audrey on her foster mom’s other knee. However, this wasn’t any regular baby but one that looked exactly like Audrey herself. Suddenly finding a child that completely resembles your own is nothing short of an incredible experience. What was happening here?
Detective Doering
Naturally, Jennifer had decided to find out who the baby girl sitting next to Audrey was. Unfortunately, the adoption agency was of no help as they did not have any record of the other baby in the photograph, let alone general information on whether she was related to Audrey in the first place.
Mom Jennifer told GMA that she was desperate to find out more the moment she saw the picture. So, she collected her investigation skills and found a woman, Nicole Rainsberry, through Facebook. Perhaps she would be able to help uncover the mystery further.
Identical Daughters, Different Mothers
If Mommy Detective’s skills were any good, then the baby in the photograph beside Audrey wasn’t just her sibling but her identical twin sister. But before she could say anything to her daughter, Jennifer had to make sure this information was correct, which is how she came in contact with Nicole Rainsberry.
Rainsberry was the mother of Gracie Rainsberry, a 10-year-old girl. Nicole turned out to be Gracie’s adoptive mother, opening the doors to a confirmation that Gracie was Audrey’s identical twin sister. But who did Jennifer dig this out?
Everything Was the Same
It was hard for Jennifer to wrap her brain around the possibility that Audrey had a twin sister. Everything was the same, from the hair to the outfits – even the glasses. Due to Jennifer’s persistence, a lengthy 48-hour process was brought into motion. It turned out that Nicole and her partner Scott Rainsberry of Richland, Washington, were the adoptive parents of Gracie. Gracie had been adopted about a week prior to the adoption of Audrey.
Jennifer contacted the couple on Facebook, and the two mothers got together to discuss. They shared stories and photos of their daughters, and everything seemed so surreal. Gracie’s mother, Nicole, said that it was crazy to be looking at a girl who looked so much like Gracie but wasn’t Gracie.
The Fourth Rainsberry Child
Apart from their appearance, what else was identical about the two daughters? Did their stories match up at all? Nicole explained in an interview how they brought Gracie into their family. After the couple had their surprise third child, they decided to add one more life into their world, and adoption seemed like a good way to do that.
About 10 years ago, the family also ended up adopting a little girl from China. Sadly, just like Audrey, her sister Gracie also suffered from a heart condition and had to undergo surgery as a baby.
Do They Tell the Kids?
The Doerings were living in a movie by then. They had just gotten to know that their daughter had a secret identical twin whom she was separated from at birth. The news would probably shock Audrey and Gracie more as they would have to deal with knowing how they missed out on their twin all along.
Both parties would surely be hit by a wave of emotions. However, the real question was whether or not the parents should share this information with their daughters. Nicole initially didn’t want to tell Gracie about their findings. That, although, didn’t last long.
Dream Come True
That year, little Audrey made a special request – to have a sister. Little did she know, her dreams would be coming true very soon, and in a way, no one could have anticipated. Tom and Jennifer were prepared to share everything with their child, and it didn’t take too long for the Rainsberry to get on board with the idea either.
Therefore, within a month since the beginning of Jennifer’s search for Audrey’s past, she had successfully connected blurry dots that led her to the Rainsberry family. The families devised a plan to make the two twin sisters meet.
Audrey’s Initial Response
With Christmas just around the corner, Jennifer’s family in Wisconsin was preparing to surprise Audrey through FaceTime with a very special Christmas gift. Her twin Gracie was in Washington state at that time. But there is so much more to such a revelation than coming out with your identity. Not everyone can cope with the sudden influx of emotions.
Audrey’s initial reaction during the call was a sheer surprise. She thought her parents were playing a prank on her, but the moment the truth started to settle, it brought everyone to tears.
How Gracie Reacted
Gracie and Audrey both admitted to feeling “overwhelmed” when they first saw each other and found out the truth. While Audrey was convinced she was the victim of a prank, Gracie was more confused. Neither of them seemed to register the fact until much later. After all, it was difficult to accept that someone who looked just like them but was a complete stranger was on the other side of the screen, thousands of miles away.
Gracie broke down in tears as her mother, Nicole, tried to console her, asking her what those tears were for. Conflicted, Gracie’s mind blanked out for a few seconds. But once the two settled down, the warm, fuzzy feeling overtook them.
The Twin Connection
It’s not every day that you receive such a priceless gift from your parents for the holidays. What’s incredible is how Audrey was aware of a void in her life and specifically wanted a sister to fill it up. The events are inspiring and almost seem to defy all logic.
Twins share such a special, unique, and powerful bond, and this story simply reinstates that. Two people who share a womb at the same time are tied together by so much more than DNA. Meeting online was just the start; reuniting in person would be the cherry on top.
Conducting a DNA Test
The Doerings and Rainsberrys contacted Dr. Nancy Segal, a psychologist who focuses on and specializes in studying twins. They decided to get a DNA test. To no one’s surprise, the results revealed with 100% certainty that the duo were identical twins – so Audrey had just gained a whole new sister, that too a twin!
So, what became of reuniting in person? As the families were invested in the DNA test, another surprise was cooking up behind the scenes. The two families were invited on the show Good Morning America to meet in person for the first time. Truly a gift that keeps giving!
A Missing Piece Now Complete
The Doerings and the Rainsberrys were invited to share their story on the popular show Good Morning America. Everyone in the studio, from the green room behind the scenes to the first row of viewers, was filled with emotions. The moment Audrey and Gracie were revealed to each other, the room filled with happy tears.
The girls felt excited, jittery, elated, and most of all, completed at last. Audrey, with tears in her eyes, explained that finding her twin sister felt very right and that her missing piece was finally found. The puzzle had been solved.
The Best Time
You probably didn’t think the story could get any more wholesome. This is where many people would debate whether letting the young girls meet each other was even a good idea, especially on GMA with thousands of eyes on them. But everyone consented and was eager. Dr. Segal also mentioned that deciding on the meeting while they were still that young was a smart move.
The twin bond is a strong bond. With their whole lives ahead of them, the girls will surely benefit from meeting at that particular point in time, as suggested by Dr. Segal on GMA.
Two Peas in a Pod
Ever since Audrey and Gracie, the two girls became inseparable despite living in two different parts of the country. They learned that they share common areas of interest, such as music, math, and sports. The two love foods like chicken alfredo, mac n’ cheese, and fries. One more thing the two love doing is pulling pranks on their siblings!
It was natural for the twins – to gel like two peas in a pod. But what was the transition like for the two families in the equation? Did acceptance come easy?
Christmas Surprise for Gracie
Placing their daughters’ needs at the very top, the two families have done everything in their power to remain supportive. The two sisters FaceTime every time and have had the opportunity to meet each other a few times throughout the year. Just the Christmas after the big reveal, Jennifer and Audrey flew out to Washington to surprise Gracie with a holiday visit. How adorable!
A big part of this story can be credited to Jennifer, whose expert detective skills helped her bring more information to light. Apart from that, the GMA helped them piece the adventure together.
Good Morning America’s Gifts
Post the big reveal and a question-answer session, the show’s hosts surprised the girls with a few additional presents. The twins received Broadway tickets for School of Rock since they love music, a complimentary dinner at Planet Hollywood as a welcome to the Big Apple, and plane tickets from Expedia.com so they could visit each other. What an exciting experience for the two 10-year-olds!
After that, they resumed traveling the world together, jumping from one fun activity to another and solidifying their twin bond. But they didn’t travel the world; they had some much-needed company.
Moving Around the World
On the note of traveling, their story moved through the Internet like wildfire, reaching more than 40 million people in just a year. Many people were moved by the touching story of the twins separated at birth and reuniting a decade later due to the consistent efforts of the parents. In fact, it was more than the reunion that made the world teary-eyed.
Nobody could get over how the families successfully changed their dynamics in order to do what was best for their children. Jennifer even commented that the two families were basically married – for better or for worse.
Revised Family Dynamic
On GMA, Dr. Segal explained that the girls’ meet-up at that young an age would provide the families an opportunity to revise and reshape their merging dynamics. With these families’ progressions, they would better learn how to handle each other, and psychology could help other families in similar situations.
Nobody predicted such a sudden and interesting link to exist between families separated across the country, let alone stay strong. It’s just as heartwarming and inspirational as it sounds.
Always Close At Heart
Nicole shared with ABC News how they are not following any rules and that they are just taking things one step at a time. These two cute young girls may live on opposite sides of the country, but they’re just as close as sisters at heart.
They felt grateful for each other before they even met, but now they have seen the world in a different light. Ultimately, they found the missing part of their heart that they had been searching for all along. They’re going to stick to Skype calls and planned visits every so often for the time being. Who knows, though? Perhaps they’ll end up attending the same college when they’re older!