This American Life: Switched at Birth

On our drive home from Ohio my family and I listened to an episode of This American Life with Ira Glass. I subscribe to the show's podcast and continue to be amazed by the power of the stories they tell. The show we listened to was from July 25, 2008 and was entitled Switched at Birth. This had to be one of the most incredible, true stories I've ever heard. And the way in which reporter Jake Halperin unfolds it is masterful. Here's how the This American Life website describes the episode:

On a summer day in 1951, two baby girls were born in a hospital in small-town Wisconsin. The infants were accidentally switched, and went home with the wrong families. One of the mothers realized the mistake but chose to keep quiet. Until the day, more than 40 years later, when she decided to tell both daughters what happened. How the truth changed two families' lives--and how it didn't.

Host Ira Glass introduces four characters: Kay McDonald, who raised a daughter named Sue, and Mary Miller, who raised a daughter named Marti. In 1994, Mary Miller wrote letters to Sue and Marti, confessing the secret she'd kept for 43 years: the daughters had been switched at birth and raised by the wrong families. This week's entire show is devoted to the story of Mary Miller's secret and what happened when both families finally learned the truth.

I don't have anything profound to say about the show except that you really need to listen to it! And then after you do, I'd like to hear how it hits you. Our family (even my kids) couldn't stop talking about it after we heard it. It's fascinating to consider the delicate nature of family relationships, the motivation a mother would have for keeping such a secret, and the repercussions of learning that the only family you've ever known is not really your family. (The picture above from Life Magazine is of the Miller family. Little Martha, the blonde baby sitting by her mother, is one of the girls who wound up in the wrong family.)

Here's the link: Switched at Birth. Just click on the "Full Episode" icon and you can stream it from your computer. You can also get it off iTunes. One note: not all episodes of this show are ones you can listen to with your children. Parents should use caution.

Update: here's a blog post about the story. What is worth noting are the comments which feature a few relatives, including comments from Mary, the oldest daughter of the Miller's and sister to Marti and Sue, the girls switched at birth. I wondered how the various family members felt about the way This American Life handled the story. She provides a helpful perspective and reveals that she wasn't entirely pleased. It's interesting.

Comments (8)

That was amazing! Very intresting and thanks for the link. I listened while I sorted christmas gifts!

Heather

Posted by Heather (Paulsen) Patenaude | December 2, 2008 3:19 PM

Oh, wow.

That's all I can say right now and I have only had time to listen to the first half. I will be finishing it tonight when I have time, but I'm almost dreading it. I don't even know why I'm dreading it, but I also know there will be no sleep tonight for me unless I finish it.

I immediately sent the link to my husband and I have a feeling our 8 and 6 yr. old will be just as fascinated. What an amazing piece for conversation and contemplation. Thanks for passing it on.

Posted by Heather | December 2, 2008 4:35 PM

I found it really bizarre that Mrs. Miller actually DIDN'T keep it a secret. She told everyone! People in their church, her own kids, people in the other family. The revelation wasn't completely out of the blue.

Other interesting points: Mrs. Miller didn't take an interest in Marti because she knew she wasn't her daughter and, despite being raised by a different family, Sue always wanted a big family and was very religious-- just like her biological family!

Posted by Esther | December 3, 2008 10:02 AM

Ultimately, it is a bittersweet example of the relationship between the Millers, between a husband and wife. Mrs. Miller chose the submissive role, and as the spiritual head of the household, Mr. Miller made the decision he felt was best. Did she submit totally, though? No, because she was heartbroken over Sue, she kept dropping hints and looking for other to figure it out. How could she not be?

Shall we pray, then the following: that every spiritual head of house and family, the dads out there, would seriously consider their role to the Glory of God.

Posted by Christina | December 3, 2008 10:55 AM

I do believe this can happened to others as well as in my family, but both my parent had gone home to the Lord. I truly don't think that my parent would have known it, even to now if they are still living.

I do believe that one of my sister who is totally so different from us true family not counting my adopted sister. I too wonder if she had been switched by birth accidently. How do I approach that in godly way? Only the Lord knows. Maybe I am dead wrong to assume that she had been switched by birth in 1957. I am the youngest (1964) of the biologial family. She is the second youngest, and we have 3 other sibling older than both of us. My adopted sister is the youngest of all, but she doesn't count about not looking like us.

You can tell by who they are (especially in medical problem)but not really by the look (she does look different but not to a great deal but in a great deal is mostly her behavior or health (medical) is very different from all of us). That is why it is hard to pin point that. I haven't pointed that out to my other sibling about that because I didn't want to have fight about it at all.

Someone who might have been there,
Signed someone

Posted by Anonymous | December 3, 2008 12:17 PM

Thanks for the link to my blog post on the This American Life segment - Switched At Birth.

I was so pleased to receive comments by a couple family members related to the story. It's always a wonderful thing when a story can be righted...even if just a little more.

Posted by Kimmelin Hull | December 4, 2008 5:04 PM

Wow, that was amazing. There are so many lessons in there, but the one I could use right now is to not live with what-ifs.

Posted by Shahrzad | December 15, 2008 4:25 PM

Can you tell me more about the illustration in the above post? This American Life represents it as an actual illustration (photo) from Life Magazine and I am wondering when it was printed and what the accompanying story was. Thanks

Posted by Kim Hamacher | July 10, 2009 12:31 AM

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