Adopted woman in tears after TV show finds birth mother is alive
A “ONE in a million” mum-of-three has left her family heartbroken after she went to sleep and never woke up.
Kelly Quinn, 39, died at her home in Southport on Friday (March 12), leaving behind children Shannon, 24, Chloe, 19, and Oliver, 11, and her grandson Jacob, aged four.
Shannon said her mum’s death was completely unexpected and comes just three months after her nan Toni Heap, 58, died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The cause of Kelly’s death is not yet known and an investigation is being carried out.
A Just Giving Page has been set up to help raise money for her funeral, with more than £400 raised in just two days.
A message on the page reads: “I’ve started this go fund me in a hope people could pull together to help my close friend Shannon give her mum the funeral she deserves.
“Kelly Quinn was a well known woman from the Southport area and passed very recently from unexpected circumstances, leaving behind her daughter Shannon and young grandson.
“Kelly’s daughter Shannon has dealt with the death of her best friend and nan in the last 12 months, and sadly now her mum.”
It continues: “I couldn’t possibly begin to imagine how she feels, especially after the year we have all had, she is now left to deal with this.
“I’m resorting to this go fund me in an attempt to help make the funeral costs a little easier and less of a worry for my friend.
“Even if it’s the smallest amount everything and anything can help. Thank you for taking the time to read this and help out.”
Paying tribute on the page, one friend wrote: “I’m so sorry for your loss. Kelly has been one of my closest friends for over 20 years, she was one in a million and will be sadly missed...x”
Another said: “So sorry for your loss, I knew Kelly years ago - lovely person, thinking of all the family xxx.”
While a third wrote: “Wish we could help more, love you Kel RIP babes.”
To donate to the Just Giving page, visit: www.gofundme.com/f/helpfund-kelly-quinns-funeral
AWOMAN adopted from Southport in 1953 was brought to tears when she found out her birth mother was still alive.
Margaret, who grew up in Warwickshire, was adopted from Southport when she was just six months old.
Born in 1953, the woman always believed her birth mother was one of the many Irish women who came over in the 1950s for the sake of adoption.
Margaret went on BBC2’s DNA Family Secrets in order to search for her birth mother.
Going into the show, the only thing Margaret knew about her biological mother was the name written on her birth certificate, although she wasn’t convinced that it was a real name.
She said: “I’ve made up this story that she [birth mother] was an Irish lady, she came over, had me and probably went back to Ireland.”
Margaret knew she was adopted and says that she had a very happy family life growing up. She got teary as she told host Stacey Dooley she thought of her biological mother on her birthday every year.
She said: “I always used to think, if nothing else she would’ve thought, ‘yeah, I gave birth on that day’.”
When speaking to her daughter Anna, Margaret admitted that she didn’t think she had a chance of meeting the woman who gave birth to her.
She told her daughter: “I think realistically I’ve left it too late to find the birth mum because I don’t think she would be alive.
“Something I keep thinking about if [the family] may have a photo, so that would be nice.”
Margaret’s DNA was analysed at University of Leicester to find answers about the 67-year-old’s birth mother.
Professor Turi King told Margaret: “We found one first cousin, six second cousins, 19 third cousins and we know about this because of how much DNA they share with you.
“And that led us to your grandparents, Margaret and James.
“So that led us to concentrate on their daughters and more specifically their youngest daughter Bridget.”
It was revealed that Bridget had another son and daughter, who the show spoke to.
“They really, really didn’t think Bridget had had any other children and there was this family story that the eldest sister had had an illegitimate child who had been given up for adoption.”
They tested Margaret’s DNA against both of the sisters to find out who her birth mother was.
Professor Turi King revealed that Bridget was in fact Margaret’s birth mother.
Margaret got emotional looking at pictures of her birth mother, noting the similarities between them.
Margaret had one thing left that she wanted to know, sitting across from Stacey she asked the thing on her mind.
Margaret asked: “I’ve just got one question, is she still alive?”
Stacey smiled as she told the woman: “She is. Your mum’s still alive. She lives in Ireland, she’s in a care home, she’s got dementia, but she’s alive.”
Margaret struggled to hold back the tears with the news about her birth mother, Stacey then handed the adoptee a letter from her newfound siblings.
The letter told Margaret what her birth mother was like and things that she had liked to do when she was healthier.
Margaret couldn’t help but cry as she read that her half-siblings were looking forward to meeting her.
The 67-year-old has been over the moon since finding out about her
Margaret learned the truth about her mother on BBC2 ‘s DNA Family Secrets birth family and has been in touch with her siblings.
She said: “It’s just beyond words, you know, birth mum still alive - how amazing is that?
“I wanted to know if she had a good life, and I know she has.
“I spoke to my sister first, and we were on the phone for I think nearly an hour. I said, ‘I’ve always wanted a sister’ and she said, ‘I’ve always wanted a sister!’.”
Margaret is planning a trip to Ireland to meet her new family and birth mother in person.
BBC2’s DNA Family Secrets airs at 9pm on Tuesday nights.