Walter McFarland, on a quest to find his father, unknowingly had a brother in his longtime friend, Alan Robinson. Meeting in sixth grade in Hawaii, their friendship grew despite diverse personalities—Walter studious, Alan a party lover. Both faced family mysteries: Walter never met his father, and Alan, adopted, sought his biological roots.
In the ’90s, they turned to the internet for family searches, yielding no results. When DNA testing emerged, Walter tried it, discovering a brother. Astonishingly, it was Alan, identified through the same service.
Alan, initially shocked, reflected, “It was a shock, yeah, definitely a shock. But then we thought about it, compared forearms.” Matching forearm hair and DNA results confirmed their brotherhood of over 60 years.
At a celebratory party, the duo unveiled the truth to friends and family. Planning their retirements together, they were astounded by newfound brotherly ties, shared plans, and a viral news story celebrating their late-discovered sibling bond.
