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Kevin McMahon, a 64-year-old man from Long Island, recently discovered that he was switched at birth at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York. McMahon, who grew up believing he was part of the McMahon family, learned through DNA testing that he is not biologically related to them. The revelation came after his sister, Carol Vignola, submitted her DNA to Ancestry.com, uncovering a brother named Ross McMahon, born on the same day as Kevin.
Both babies were born on May 26, 1960, and given consecutive birth certificate numbers. The mix-up went unnoticed for decades until the DNA tests revealed the truth. McMahon is now suing Jamaica Hospital for the error that drastically altered his life.
Growing up, McMahon often felt out of place within his family. He was treated differently by his paternal grandmother, who suspected he wasn't her biological grandchild. McMahon's darker eyes and complexion further fueled these suspicions. McMahon told the New York Post that the discovery was "the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle" of his life, explaining his feelings of being an outsider.
Since learning the truth, McMahon has connected with his biological family, including Ross, the man with whom he was switched at birth, and Keith, his biological brother. McMahon expressed feelings of jealousy towards Ross, who grew up as the firstborn child to McMahon's biological parents and received their full support and affection.
As the legal proceedings continue, McMahon and his newfound family are working to understand and cope with the impact of the switch. Jamaica Hospital has not commented on the case, and the emotional toll on McMahon and his family remains significant.