'I couldn't believe it was my sister' says Chorley man who was traced by his long lost sibling on social media

26-year-old Jamie McDonald, from Chorley, was browsing through Facebook when he saw a post in a local group from a girl looking to find her brother that she knew nothing about.

But it was when the post mentioned his own dad's name, that he instantly knew it was him that she was looking for in a moment he describes as "crazy".

Jamie said: "I only found out I had a sister when I was 21 and met my dad for the first time, but I didn't know anything about her or any details about where she was living.

"It was difficult finding that out because I always wanted to know more about her, to meet her and get to know her because she is family, but I didn't know where to start.

"I had just sat down after work and was scrolling through Facebook, when I saw my dads name on the post and couldn't believe it that it was my sister.

"I am really happy that she put the post out because she is an only child and for her to find me - she now has a brother and I have a sister so I am really made up.

"It had been playing on both our minds and we have been talking every day since just catching up and getting to know each other. It is crazy."

Jamie had only first met his dad on his 21st birthday, who then lived in Newcastle, where he was handed the surprising news that he had a sister.

He had first been told that his step-dad was his biological dad, until his mum thought he was old enough to understand the news for himself.

And it had long troubled his sister Shona Dennison, from Gateshead, who also knew very little about her Lancashire-born sibling, other than them both sharing the same dad.

Shona, 23, is an only child and doesn't maintain a relationship with her dad, so was desperate to try and track down her brother through social media.

A simple post to Facebook group 'Chorley Life' last Sunday, January 10, was all it took and through the power of social media, she had found him within half an hour.

The pub chef said: "I knew I had a brother but knew nothing about him. I didn't know much about where he was from or his existence, all I had to go off was our dads name and that he lived in Chorley somewhere.

"I spent hours looking through Facebook trying to find out as much as I could and spent all day writing posts in different groups trying to find him.

"I posted one in the Chorley group and just hoped for the best and then it just happened. I had always thought I was an only child, so to find out I have a sibling and a blood relative is amazing."

As if finding one another wasn't enough for the pair, who live almost 150 miles apart, they then discovered that they are auntie and uncle to each other's children.

After spending all day catching up and getting to know one another, they decided to stay in contact and meet up when Covid-19 guidance allows it, to continue building on their newfound relationship.

Shona added: "I really hoped that with the power of Facebook I could somehow track him down with his name but I wasn't sure if I would ever get anywhere.

"It was having all the extra time in the lockdown that made me think more about it and I am so happy I did and am now really excited to build a relationship with him because we are so similar.

"It is so lucky because I thought it could take months to track him down, but it happened so quickly and I haven't stopped smiling since."

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