Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
- Jeremy Morrison from Colorado claims he was switched at birth.
- DNA tests revealed Morrison's parents aren't his biological parents, sparking a lawsuit.
- Unity Medical Center denies allegations due to lack of records from 1988.
PUEBLO, Colo. — A Southern Colorado man said he was switched at birth, and the man he said he was switched with and their parents are suing the hospital where the two men were born.
Jeremy Morrison said the discovery was made on an ancestry website.
His aunt gave DNA, and a man by the name of Kyle Bylin matched as her nephew. Morrison said he does not have any cousins, though.
The Southern Coloradan said he has always felt different from his family.
"I didn't have anyone that looked like me in my family," Morrison continued. "I was that blonde-haired kid that stood out in a family full of brown-haired people. "
Two years ago, at age 36, Morrison finally found out why he felt that way when he took a DNA test, and the results came back showing his parents are not his parents.
"I know I definitely wouldn't be here in Colorado today if I went home with the right parents." Morrison continued. "I would have been working the farm with my older brother that I never knew I had."
Morrison said the man he was switched at birth with, Kyle Bylin, was born just hours before him on Jan. 26, 1988, at the same hospital in Grafton, North Dakota.
"I believe we were the only babies born that day," said Morrison.
Morrison, Bylin and their parents are suing Unity Medical Center, saying the hospital switched the two men as babies.
Litigation records show the hospital denies the allegation and provided 11 News with the following statement:
Unity Medical Center has been honored to serve the people of this region for more than 100 years. Throughout that time, our commitment has remained the same, to provide compassionate, high-quality care while keeping the well-being of our patients and their families at the center of everything we do.
We are currently working to better understand a highly unusual situation involving two men who apparently were separated from their biological parents at some point during their lives. Both men were born at our hospital on the same day in 1988, and we recognize the profound impact this discovery has had on them and their families.
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. While we deeply sympathize with the men and their families, we have found no evidence to support claims that Unity Medical Center or its staff were responsible for what occurred.
As caregivers, our hearts go out to both men and to everyone affected by this difficult situation. We can only imagine the range of emotions they and their loved ones are experiencing.
Morrison said he never would have guessed this would happen to him.
"Me and Kyle didn't grow up in the same area; we couldn't have gotten switched at daycare or anything like that," said Morrison.
Morrison said he is spreading awareness so people know this can happen.
"If you feel like you look different than everyone else, there might be a reason for it," said Morrison.
Both sets of parents have met their biological sons, but the two men have not met each other yet.
The families' attorney said the lawsuit was made public just the other week.
