Two men who discovered through DNA tests that they were switched at birth 38 years ago are suing a North Dakota hospital, accusing it of robbing them of the lives they were meant to live. Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison, the only babies born on Jan. 26, 1988, at Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota, were sent home with the wrong parents.
Bylin learned of the mix-up after taking an at-home DNA test as a gift. The results led him to his biological aunt, whose nephew, Morrison, then also had his DNA tested. The results confirmed they had been switched at birth.
"That’s when my mind was just completely blown," Bylin said. "We could have never imagined that it was an actual birth switch that occurred."
Morrison stated he was convinced when he saw a photo of Bylin's brother and noticed a strong resemblance. Bylin, who was born Jeremy Morrison, still possesses a hospital bracelet that misidentified him as Kyle Bylin.
The lawsuit was filed last week in state court. A statement from Unity Medical Center said there is no evidence that staff were responsible for the switch. The hospital acknowledged that the babies were switched at some point, but it stated that it is working to understand what happened. However, it has found no evidence implicating its administration or staff in the error.
"We recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families," the hospital said in its statement. "Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital."
Evelyn Newton, who raised Bylin, expressed that while Kyle remains her son, she feels robbed of the 35 years she could have spent with her biological son. "You can't go back and replace 35 years. First steps, driving a car, getting married — how do you make up for that?"
Morrison, who lives in Colorado City, Colorado, and works as a welding inspector, stated that the knowledge of the switch has not altered his feelings for the family he grew up with. He still considers Elizabeth O'Toole and Terry Morrison his parents. Despite some challenging moments, such as wishing for a sibling at age 7 when his parents divorced, he described his childhood as positive. "I was loved. I played sports. I did well in school," Morrison said. "A DNA test is not going to take away 38 years of memories."
Bylin, who pursued an academic career away from North Dakota, reflected on the nature versus nurture debate becoming personal. He noted that his differing personality from his biological family, which he previously attributed to family dynamics, was instead a reflection of their fundamentally different lives.
Both men have met their biological parents, describing the encounters as welcoming but awkward. They have spoken by phone but have not yet met in person. Bylin noted, "We’ve tried to unite as a group and just recognize that no matter what, there’s different ways that this can be socially messy. Everyone’s getting to know people that they didn’t know before."
Attorney Tim O’Keefe attempted for a year to reach a monetary settlement with the hospital before filing the lawsuit, which claims emotional distress due to negligence and medical malpractice. The families are navigating the ongoing process of adjusting to their new realities and building relationships.