FIRST STEP DNA, North Ogden, UT (2025)

02/07/2024

Ok I’m on the bandwagon! 21 baby! (Or I was such a baby -21!)

05/09/2023

***TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY***

I was looking for help to find out who my real dad is! This had been something I had struggled with for 10-15 years! I had no support from my family in getting direction as to who he is. I had been given a few names, but I was having a hard time trusting my family when they lied to me my whole life about the situation.

My mom was young when she had me. She had/has no interest in having a conversation about any of this.

I just felt so lost. Then came Kathy at First Step DNA. She told me that the first step would be for me to take an Ancestry DNA test.

I ordered one immediately and waited patiently (kindof) for the results to come back. When I received my results I didn’t know what to do with them so I contacted Kathy and she immediately began working with the information.

I had some pretty good matches, in fact, with Kathy’s help and through my DNA I have found 2 half siblings from my biological father. I have been in contact with my half-sister. She has told me quite a bit about my biological father but has warned me that I probably shouldn’t try to get to know him as he is very deceptive and may affect my life in a negative manner.

I am heeding her warning and I’m not going to try to reach out to him, but I am getting to know my half siblings and the rest of my new found family!

The struggle is REAL! Get help with your DNA results and you will feel so much relief and satisfaction in knowing who your biological family is! Thank you Kathy at First Step DNA you are a blessing to so many people!

Katelyn B – Hiawatha, Iowa

Photo credit of two sisters by Clarisse Meyer on Thank you!

04/25/2023

Happy DNA day!!

Take the “first step” and take an Ancestry DNA test - you’ll be glad you did!

04/12/2023

Red Flag Wednesday!!!

Here's a testimonial as to how important it is to read the various documents found on Ancestry, Family Search, newsPapers, etc.

We were helping a client try to locate her biological father. Client was born in 1960 and adopted at birth. From adoption records she was able to ascertain her birth mother's identity and had made contact with her. No biological father was listed so that's when she turned to First Step DNA to find her biological father.

When we first open a case we always color-code our client's DNA matches using the Leeds Method. The colors can tell us a lot about the potential families! In a "perfect world" we would only use 4 colors which would represent her 4 grandparents - two on her mother's side and two on her father's side. When we color-coded her matches there were three colors on her father's side and only one color on her mother's side. RED FLAG!

We went on to follow the DNA and found her biological father's family but there are several brothers so we aren't certain which brother is her biological father (more testing may be forthcoming).

Now on to the RED FLAG ... there was only one color on her mother's side. After researching the family we came across several newspaper articles about a 15 year old daughter who had been "compromised" by her father that produced a baby girl. There was a trial and although we don't know the outcome of the trial we do know the outcome of that family. This young woman only lived a few more years and her young daughter was then, in fact, adopted by her mother's parents (actually baby's biological father and maternal grandmother). If we had not read every article available as well as death certificates, marriage records, etc. we would not have been able to piece together this crazy case!

We, at First Step DNA make every effort to read and review every document available. We also use several other programs to help analyze your possible DNA relationships.

DON'T WAIT! take the First Step and contact us today!

03/07/2023

Testimonial Tuesday!!!

I've always known I was adopted.

Several years ago I decided I wanted to find my birth family. Back then I did it the "old-fashioned" way of going through the court system to get my adoption records, looking in phonebooks for specific names, etc., etc. After about 2 years I was successful and found my biological mother and maternal half siblings! I was thrilled!

When it came to my biological father we had no real good information except his last name may have been "Coleman" and his first name may have been "Kim".

So I turned to DNA and took an Ancestry DNA test. My sweet son in law decided he was going to figure out this puzzle and spent almost 2 years trying to put the pieces together!

Then, with help from Kathy at First Step DNA, the picture started to come together. It took her several long days but she finally made the connection!

My bio dad's name is Coleman but his first name is Kay not Kim!

I don't know if we would have ever figured this out without Kathy's expertise. She followed the DNA and then looked for the name (not the other way around!)

Here is a picture of me with one of my paternal half sisters! The best thing about being adopted is the people who come into your life and make it better!

Thank you Kathy for your help in completing my biological family tree! I believe this was pure divine intervention!

-Jeannine H., Utah

03/07/2023

Testimonial Tuesday!!!

I've always known I was adopted.

Several years ago I decided I wanted to find my birth family. Back then I did it the "old-fashioned" way of going through the court system to get my adoption records, looking in phonebooks for specific names, etc., etc. After about 2 years I was successful and found my biological mother and maternal half siblings! I was thrilled!

When it came to my biological father we had no real good information except his last name may have been "Coleman" and his first name may have been "Kim".

So I turned to DNA and took an Ancestry DNA test. My sweet son in law decided he was going to figure out this puzzle and spent almost 2 years trying to put the pieces together!

Then, with help from Kathy at First Step DNA, the picture started to come together. It took her several long days but she finally made the connection!

My bio dad's name is Coleman but his first name is Kay not Kim!

I don't know if we would have ever figured this out without Kathy's expertise. She followed the DNA and then looked for the name (not the other way around!)

Here is a picture of me with one of my paternal half sisters! The best thing about being adopted is the people who come into your life and make it better!

Thank you Kathy for your help in completing my biological family tree! I believe this was pure divine intervention!

-Jeannine H.

02/14/2023

Testimonial Tuesday!!!

My brother and I were placed for adoption because our parents couldn't take care of us due to addictions. We were told the name of both our parents. Over the years I tried searching for them but couldn't find them anywhere! I took an Ancestry DNA test and I didn't recognize their names there either! That's when Kathy at First Step DNA stepped in to help me. Two days later she had both my parents' names and contact information for my biological mother. I reached out to her on Facebook and she accepted my "friend request"! Within just a short time I was facetiming with my biological mother! IT WAS AMAZING! I know I couldn't have done this without Kathy's help. She is very educated in the DNA stuff and did such a professional job! Thank you Kathy! I look forward to meeting my bio mom in person (for a second time) in the very near future! Thank you First Step DNA! ~ Travis H, Tennesssee

04/12/2022

***TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY***

I never felt connected IN ANY WAY to my “birth certificate father” although when asked, my mother adamantly stated that he was my father!

Well … along came DNA testing and I couldn’t wait to take a test to see if it would show me whether or not he was my father.

When I received my DNA results back from Ancestry I did not have any matches with his family (or his seven other children) so I KNEW that he wasn’t my biological father (which I was grateful for)! Now what to do?

I tried piecing together my DNA matches to come up with possible biological family members. I thought I had things narrowed down but the pieces were just not coming together … that’s when Kathy at First Step DNA stepped in to SAVE ME!

She told me she wanted to start from the beginning, from scratch, by analyzing my Ancestry DNA results.

Within 24 hours she was calling me to tell me she had found my biological father! Unfortunately, he had just passed away a month before (at the age of 95). Kathy was able to find his obituary which has given me a lot of great information – including the feeling of BEING CONNECTED to him – you see, I LOVE to hunt and fish and his obituary emphasized that he loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting with his sons and grandsons!

I have several half-siblings that I am trying to contact but so far I haven’t been able to connect with any of them. Needless to say, Kathy has helped lift a HUGE BURDEN off of my shoulders! I always felt like I wasn’t part of the family I grew up in and that there was other family out there for me to find … now I’m just praying I will be able to connect with my newfound family!

I am 75 years old – I’m not looking for anything from this newfound family but just to know that they are who I BELONG to … I am a Spencer not a Jones!

This has been a remarkable journey and I’m so grateful for Kathy and her talents in helping piece together my biological family puzzle. Don’t hesitate to contact Kathy at First Step DNA – do it FIRST because she will be able to figure things out WAY BEFORE YOU WILL!

K Jones – St. George, Utah

03/29/2022

***TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY***

I’m an adoptee who had zero information about my biological family.

I received my Ancestry DNA results on December 12, 2021 and by January 13, 2022 (31 days) I had knowledge of both my biological parents. Unfortunately, my father had already passed. I have been in contact with my biological mother! I also have 3 new half siblings! WOW! What a 31-day ride!

Kathy Lewis at First Step DNA has been such a blessing in my life! She was able to put us on the correct path and then my oldest daughter went to work sleuthing around to find family members willing to talk.

At the age of 55 I have blood relatives! To those on this DNA journey hoping to find biological family members – stay the course! If you need help – reach out to Kathy at First Step DNA – you won’t be sorry you did!

Tim P, Indiana

03/22/2022

***TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY***

These are thank you cards we received from Daniel's biological sisters (last week's Testimonial Tuesday). As you can see, our work TOUCHES many lives.

Dear Kathy: I don't know where to begin. Our sister searched for Daniel for years, all through the 90's but got no results. She's not with us any more but she would've been literally out of her mind with joy today. Thank you doesn't seem nearly enough of a word to show all of our appreciation.

Thank you again. I hope our mom is watching from Heaven as well. She cried so hard giving Daniel up. Now she'll be so very happy.

Sincerest gratitude - Debbie

Hi Kathy - you don't know me ... but you are part of a big reason I talked to my younger brother for the FIRST TIME! I can't begin to tell you the joy and love I had talking to him.

Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for your help in this - Mary

03/15/2022

***TESTIMONIAL TUESDAY***

This is all I knew … I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. My parents came from Canada and settled in Kansas. My parents were in their 50’s when they had me and they felt they couldn’t take care of me so they put me up for adoption through LDS Social Services. I was born in 1971 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I was referred to Kathy Lewis at First Step DNA and told that if anyone could find my family it would be her! I kept her number for quite some time because I was kind of afraid of what she may or may not be able to find for me. Finally, on December 23, 2021 I contacted Kathy and asked her for help. She asked me if I had taken a DNA test – I said no I didn’t know what/where to begin. She told me to take an Ancestry DNA test as they have the largest database and we’d go from there.

DNA test ordered, taken, and FINALLY received results on January 28, 2022! Right away she sent me instructions so she could get to work on my case. Kathy was very professional and told me to not rely solely on the information from the adoption agency – that we needed to follow the DNA and see if it corresponds with the adoption agency records. Within 2 hours I received a phone call from Kathy with family names!

I DO HAVE 3 SISTERS AND 2 BROTHERS! My parents did come from Canada but moved to Las Vegas, Nevada for a few years (we don’t know where the Kansas information came from). Both my parents have passed as well as two of my five siblings (which has been really hard for me) but I have 2 big sisters and a big brother that knew about me and are THRILLED to have me in their lives! All three live back in Canada but are planning a trip this spring to meet me in the states.

I couldn’t have found my family without Kathy’s help! She knows her “stuff”! Because of Kathy I now feel COMPLETE! I know who I am, I know who I come from and I know that I will always have my family by my side. Thank you Kathy at First Step DNA!

Daniel K, Boulder City, Nevada
Daniel Krbdog Kirby

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