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Dixon Handshaw, 75, found his biological family after a change in New York law allowed him to access his birth records.
Dixon Handshaw meets over 50 relatives at emotional Christmas gathering.
For 75-year-old Dixon Handshaw, this Christmas marked a remarkable turning point in his life. After spending decades in isolation, with no siblings or relatives, Handshaw finally found his family – a reunion made possible by a change in US law that had kept him separated from his biological family for most of his life.
Handshaw, who resides in North Carolina, had always lived alone. He was adopted at just three months old, and for years, he had no knowledge of his birth parents. For most of his life, he believed he had no siblings and was completely disconnected from his biological roots. However, a recent change in New York State law opened the door for him to discover his family and piece together the missing parts of his past.
The law, which had previously sealed adoption-related birth certificates, was amended in 2019 to allow people access to their original birth records. This legal shift allowed Handshaw to obtain his birth certificate in August 2024, revealing the name of his biological father: Robert Bud Romig.
Handshaw, excited yet apprehensive, searched for Romig’s name online. What he found left him stunned. Not only did he see a striking resemblance between himself and his father in photos, but he also learned that he had several brothers and a sister – siblings he had never known existed. Handshaw was left wondering why his parents had put him up for adoption, a question that remained unanswered.
“I am just like him,” Handshaw reflected upon discovering the truth about his father. “The moment I Googled his name, his obituary appeared. I couldn’t believe how much I resembled him. And then I found out I had siblings – something I had dreamed about all my life,” he added.
The reunion came just in time for the Christmas holidays. Over the weekend, Handshaw travelled to New York to meet his biological family ahead of their annual Christmas celebration. It was an emotional meeting for Handshaw, who had always longed for a brother or sister. The experience felt like “Christmas magic” to him.
At the Christmas gathering, Handshaw was introduced to over 50 relatives, including cousins, nieces, and nephews, who welcomed him with open arms. For the first time in his life, he was surrounded by family, a moment he had never imagined possible. “I never thought I would find my family at this stage in my life,” Handshaw said, overwhelmed with emotion, adding that it was the best Christmas gift he could have ever asked for.
