Liv Kelly Fossen, 66, discovered in January 2025 that she is a donor child after receiving a Facebook message from an unknown man named Jon, uncovering decades of hidden family history spanning back to the 1960s. Raised in Hamar by her mother and father with no siblings, Fossen lived for decades completely unaware of the truth, even after her father died in 1999 at seven years older than her mother, and her mother passed away in 2021 at age 92.
How a Facebook Message Uncovered a 1960s Donor Secret
The revelation began when Jon sent a message via Facebook to Fossen’s daughter, Nathalie, who had previously taken a DNA test on MyHeritage alongside her brother Roger for fun. Jon wrote that he and his sister had learned years prior that they were donor children from the 1960s, noting his sister was 56 and he was 62. Although Fossen initially dismissed the message as a scam, Nathalie checked the MyHeritage database and discovered an uncle and aunt on her DNA matches.
Fossen then decided to take a DNA test herself, confirming she had two half-siblings: a brother named Jon and a sister named Marianne. Jon and Marianne had also grown up entirely unaware that their father was not their biological parent, a secret their own mother eventually revealed during a family meeting after being prompted by an adopted stepsister taking DNA tests.
Did You Know? Sperm freezing was not performed in Norway until the late 1970s, which meant that Liv Kelly and Marianne’s donor must have visited the gynecologist who inseminated women with sperm in Drammen on a regular basis during the 1960s, according to historical context from a Drammens Tidende interview with the gynecologist.
The Search for the Biological Father in Drammen
Determined to learn more about their biological origins, the siblings enlisted the help of Lucas Terreni, a young Danish man passionate about genealogy who had solved many similar cases in Denmark. Terreni spent roughly 300 hours helping them free of charge, eventually discovering two additional half-siblings—a sister named Tone, whom they contacted, and a brother they have not yet reached.
Through Terreni’s research and a historical newspaper interview given by the gynecologist who performed inseminations in Drammen during the 1960s, the siblings learned about their biological father. Fossen stated that their biological father ran a business in Drammen, loved horses, and was well-known in the area, though they cannot publicly share his name.
Reflections on a Lifelong Secret and Family Reunions
Despite the shock of discovering she was a donor child in her sixties, Fossen holds no resentment toward her parents. She explained that she understands why her parents kept the secret, noting that a donor could not be traced back then and that the era was defined by much stricter privacy regarding family matters. Jon expressed similar sentiments, explaining that while the discovery was unexpected, he appreciates learning about his medical history, noting he previously went for annual bowel cancer screenings because his legal father died of the disease at age 55.
The siblings met in person for the first time last year at a café, an encounter Fossen and Jon described as instantly natural and full of laughter. Fossen continues to monitor her MyHeritage DNA matches every Sunday, hoping that more of her potential half-siblings will eventually emerge.
DNA match on MyHeritage reveals five half-siblings for Liv Kelly Fossen
Who first contacted Liv Kelly Fossen about the DNA connection?
A man named Jon sent a Facebook message in January 2025 to Fossen’s daughter, Nathalie, after finding a DNA match on MyHeritage.
How many half-siblings have been identified so far?
Through DNA testing and the genealogical assistance of Lucas Terreni, Fossen and her siblings have identified five half-siblings in total, including Jon, Marianne, Tone, and an unnamed brother.
Why did the parents keep the donor arrangement a secret?
Jon stated that their mother followed the advice given at the time, which suggested that telling children about being donor children could be harmful, and she had promised her husband not to tell until after he passed away.