Like many people across the globe, Rachael Robertson wanted to learn more about her heritage and turned to a DNA testing service to help find her answers. Rachael went to MyHeritage.com and submitted her DNA test hoping it would help her find her biological father.

About a year later, Criss Rosenlof also submitted his DNA as part of his ongoing search for his long lost biological daughter. Shortly after his submission, an email appeared in Rachael’s inbox.

“I literally screamed and threw my phone across the room, which startled my husband,” she said in an interview with People magazine.

“After calming down, my husband sat with me while I read his email over and over,” she recalled. “A couple of hours later I managed to reply, and we started emailing back and forth to get to know each other.”

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Rachael’s mother had gotten pregnant while she was dating Rosenlof and had put Rachael up for adoption. Rosenlof reportedly offered to support Rachael’s mother, but because neither were interested in marriage or a long-term relationship, Rachael’s mother went forward with an adoption.

“A few weeks later she called me and told me she had decided to put the baby up for adoption,” Rosenlof said to People.

“When Rachael was born I received a phone call from her mother telling me that she had delivered a daughter, and asking if I wanted to see her,” he added.

“I asked if she was still determined to give the child up for adoption and she said she was, and so I decided I did not want to see her because I didn’t think I could handle seeing her and then giving her up.”

But Rosenlof never forgot about his long lost daughter. He spent years looking for her, but couldn’t find any clues. The DNA test was his last-ditch effort.

“I took the DNA test, knowing it was a long shot,” he said in his interview. “There are several companies that offer DNA testing, and honestly, what was the likelihood that my daughter had even performed a DNA test, let alone done so through the same company I was using?”

Surprisingly, she had and a message appeared in Rosenlof’s inbox just weeks after his submission. “You can imagine my surprise that at the top of the list was a young woman who shared roughly 50% of my DNA with the relationship of ‘daughter.'”

The two were able to connect and agreed to meet for lunch, although Rosenlof admits he was terrified. “Was she going to be angry at me for giving her up for adoption? Did she have a good life? Did she even want to get to know me?” he said. “Rachael turned out to be a sweet, loving soul, easily more scared than I was.”

Rachael admitted she was equally nervous. “But once we started talking, we had so much in common! I had so much fun talking with him, even though I was still overwhelmed. Even then, Criss understood my anxiety and allowed me to go at my speed for everything.”

Both Rachael and her father’s families have met since their reunion and they learned Rachael grew up just a few miles from where Rosenolf lived. In an unbelievable coincidence, Rachael’s husband had already met Rosenlof at a Comic Con convention two years before the reunion.

“When I started looking for my biological parents, I knew that there was a possibility that I would find someone who didn’t want me in their lives,” Rachael said. “I was ready to accept that, as that would be their choice. I just wanted to know the why and know a bit of my history.”

“But to find someone who is so kind, and wanted me in his life and was actually searching for me as well, and welcomed my family and me in with such love is more than I could have ever asked for.”

Rosenlof is just happy to have his daughter back. “I know that adoption is actually the loving answer in some situations, and I’m glad that Rachael’s mom and I were able to provide a loving daughter for her new family,” he added. “I’m even happier that she and her family are back in my life.”

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