mathsjery
JF-Expert Member
- Sep 26, 2015
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As a child, Valerie was brought up by her maternal grandparents, who raised her as their own.
Then, when she was eight or nine, Valerie was told that Christine, the ‘family friend’ who often visited, was actually her biological mother. She’d got pregnant at 15. But no-one ever talked to Valerie about who her dad was.
When Christine died in 1984, Valerie lost the chance to ask her mum who her father was.

Valerie had no idea
After her first marriage broke down, Valerie fell in love and married a man named Percy. ‘He was a good provider, and we had a good life,’ Valerie said.
When Percy, 60, died in 1998, Valerie was devastated to lose her hubby and the stepfather of her three children. But what she didn’t realise was that some of her family had been hiding a dark secret. Six years later, an uncle told Valerie the truth – Percy wasn’t just her husband, he was in fact her father.
A DNA test using samples from Percy’s hairbrush confirmed the astounding paternity claims. Valerie isn’t sure if Percy was aware that he was her dad.
‘I don’t know if he ever knew or not,’– she admits. ‘That conversation didn’t come up.’
Valerie hopes her story will help others survive traumatic experiences. ‘Everybody’s dealt a hand, and it’s not always good and it’s not always bad. ‘But if you live that hand that God gave you, it’s gonna be all right,’ she insists.
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Then, when she was eight or nine, Valerie was told that Christine, the ‘family friend’ who often visited, was actually her biological mother. She’d got pregnant at 15. But no-one ever talked to Valerie about who her dad was.
When Christine died in 1984, Valerie lost the chance to ask her mum who her father was.

Valerie had no idea
After her first marriage broke down, Valerie fell in love and married a man named Percy. ‘He was a good provider, and we had a good life,’ Valerie said.
When Percy, 60, died in 1998, Valerie was devastated to lose her hubby and the stepfather of her three children. But what she didn’t realise was that some of her family had been hiding a dark secret. Six years later, an uncle told Valerie the truth – Percy wasn’t just her husband, he was in fact her father.
A DNA test using samples from Percy’s hairbrush confirmed the astounding paternity claims. Valerie isn’t sure if Percy was aware that he was her dad.
‘I don’t know if he ever knew or not,’– she admits. ‘That conversation didn’t come up.’
Valerie hopes her story will help others survive traumatic experiences. ‘Everybody’s dealt a hand, and it’s not always good and it’s not always bad. ‘But if you live that hand that God gave you, it’s gonna be all right,’ she insists.
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Kama mtoto, Valerie alilelewa na babu na mama ya mama, ambao walimlea kama wao.
Halafu, wakati alikuwa na miaka nane au tisa, Valerie aliambiwa kwamba Christine, 'rafiki wa familia' ambaye mara nyingi alitembelea, alikuwa kweli mama yake mzazi. Alipata ujauzito akiwa na miaka 15. Lakini hakuna mtu aliyewahi kuzungumza na Valerie juu ya baba yake ni nani.
Wakati Christine alikufa mnamo 1984, Valerie alipoteza nafasi ya kumuuliza mama yake kwamba baba yake alikuwa nani.
Valerie hakujua
Baada ya ndoa yake ya kwanza kuvunjika, Valerie alipenda na kuolewa na mtu anayeitwa Percy. "Alikuwa mtoaji mzuri, na tulikuwa na maisha mazuri," Valerie alisema.
Wakati Percy, 60, alikufa mnamo 1998, Valerie alifadhaika kupoteza kitovu chake na baba wa kambo wa watoto wake watatu. Lakini kile ambacho hakutambua ni kwamba baadhi ya familia yake walikuwa wameficha siri ya giza. Miaka sita baadaye, mjomba alimwambia Valerie ukweli - Percy hakuwa tu mumewe, kwa kweli alikuwa baba yake.
Jaribio la DNA kwa kutumia sampuli kutoka kwa mswaki wa nywele wa Percy ilithibitisha madai ya kushangaza ya baba. Valerie hana hakika ikiwa Percy alikuwa akijua kuwa alikuwa baba yake.
‘Sijui kama aliwahi kujua au la,’ - anakubali. 'Mazungumzo hayo hayakuja.'
Valerie anatumai hadithi yake itasaidia wengine kuishi katika uzoefu wa kiwewe. 'Kila mtu ameshughulikiwa mkono, na sio nzuri kila wakati na sio mbaya kila wakati. "Lakini ikiwa unaishi mkono huo ambao Mungu alikupa, itakuwa sawa," anasisitiza.