About thirty minutes later, the nurse returned with the hospital’s chief medical officer.
“We’re terribly sorry for what you’re going through,” he began. “There was only one other woman who gave birth at the same time and date as you. She also had a boy. I believe your biological son might be with her.”
“So it’s true?!” Paul shouted. “You switched our babies?!”
“I’m truly sorry,” the doctor said. “You have the right to sue the hospital for compensation.”
“How are money and compensation supposed to make up for four years of not knowing the truth?” I asked through tears.
“I’m sorry,” the doctor repeated, then turned and walked away.
“Damn this system!” Paul yelled.
“I’ll give you the contact information for the other parents, so you can reach out to them,” the nurse added softly.
She handed Paul a slip of paper with a name and number, then walked away too.
Paul and I stood there, stunned. I could not stop crying. I just could not hold it in. Paul rubbed my back gently, trying to calm me down.
When we got back home, we reached out to the other parents. They were just as shocked as we were; they had no clue. Their names were Sarah and James, and their son’s name was Andrew.