For years, Michael Goessling knew nothing beyond the barest facts of his birth. He had grown up in St. Louis aware that he was adopted, and that his parents had conceived him when both were 14 years old. As a baby, he had been given up for adoption. That was all he knew.
Only later on did he find out that one of his parents had grown up to be Michael McDonald.
KCTV reported on the story through Goessling. He described his childhood as happy, spent with the family who raised him. It was not until his half-brother took a 23andMe DNA test that Goessling learned he had a half-brother. That test prompted a chain of meetings: first his half-brother, then his biological mother, and eventually a telephone conversation with his biological father.
The man’s reply to Goessling’s question about his occupation is what turned the conversation.
“I said, ‘Are you Michael McDonald?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, I’m afraid so.'”
The Coincidence of Shared Names
The two Michaels share a first name entirely by chance. McDonald was 14 when Goessling was born, which explains why the resemblance went unnoticed for so long.
For years, people have probably been telling Goessling that he resembles Michael McDonald. The tale shows that the likeness remained unremarked upon for decades, despite the fact that Goessling’s adoptive family provided him with a wonderful upbringing.
On his 58th birthday, Goessling met his biological mother, whose identity has never been made public. McDonald is 74.
McDonald’s Guilt, Finally Lifted
KCTV reported that McDonald said he has always carried that guilt with him. However, learning that Goessling was okay and had a good life gave him a great reward, along with the knowledge that he had a life McDonald could not have provided for him at that time.
“The real rock stars in this story are his adoptive parents, who really gave Michael everything that a child needs in terms of love and security,” McDonald said. “It was a wonderful experience to see Michael and to get to meet my son, after all these years thinking about him.”
McDonald calls Goessling’s adoptive parents the real rock stars of the story, and she makes it clear that they raised him with love and security.
A Hug and a Grandfather
When Goessling and McDonald first met face to face, they embraced warmly and told each other how much they loved one another.
When McDonald met Goessling, he learned that Goessling is a grandfather.
“That’s still sinking in to me. What a gift,” McDonald said.
A Memoir and a Precedent
Some years back, McDonald released What A Fool Believes, a memoir penned alongside the comedian and actor Paul Reiser. It marked the first occasion he shared publicly that he had become a father at that age.
Billy Idol also met his long-lost son, also via 23andMe test, in a documentary last year.
The Wry Truth of It All
A man listened to Michael McDonald’s songs throughout his life without realizing the link between them. That has changed now.
The shared name and the father’s age explain why the resemblance went unnoticed for so long. McDonald was 14 when Goessling was born, and Goessling only found out about him much later, after his half-brother’s DNA test pulled the thread.
Credit is due to the people who raised Goessling with love and security, and McDonald acknowledges this, referring to them as the real rock stars of the story.
Goessling grew up in St. Louis, and both his birth parents were 14 when he was conceived. As an infant, he was put up for adoption. He met his biological mother on his 58th birthday. McDonald is 74, and her memoir What A Fool Believes was co-written with Paul Reiser. Billy Idol also met his long-lost son via 23andMe test.
Key Facts Box
- Goessling was born when both his parents were 14 years old
- Goessling grew up in St. Louis
- Goessling was given up for adoption as a baby
- Goessling met his biological mother on his 58th birthday
- McDonald is 74
- McDonald’s memoir What A Fool Believes was co-written with Paul Reiser
- Billy Idol also met his long-lost son via 23andMe test
See the video the story is built around at Stereogum.
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