IVF mix‑up reveals shocking error connecting two families

The story of Donna and Vanner Johnson is an unusual example of how deeply the consequences of medical mistakes can affect people's lives. The decision to conduct DNA tests was intended to understand their ancestry better, but it turned their lives upside down.

The couple underwent in vitro fertilisation to fulfil their dream of expanding their family. They succeeded, but their happiness was unsettled several years later in a manner that could serve as a plot for a television series.

The Johnsons wanted to learn more about their family's history and create a family tree. To this end, they conducted genetic tests among their closest relatives. When the test results revealed that their 12-year-old son, conceived through in vitro fertilisation, is not biologically related to Vanner, they were shocked.

Further tests revealed that there had been a mistake at the clinic years ago. The boy's biological father turned out to be Devin McNeil from Colorado. Both families decided to contact each other and jointly sue the facility, whose mistake significantly impacted their lives.

Despite the complex emotions that this situation caused, both the Johnsons and McNeil are trying to find their way into the new reality. Importantly, Vanner's love for his son has remained unchanged, and both families decided to stay in touch to cope with this challenging experience together.