Moment woman, 35, meets her four siblings for the first time after her depressed mother left her on the steps of a London tower block as a baby while grieving miscarriages and the death of two of her infant children
- Niki Weedon, 35, was found on the steps of a London tower block as a newborn
- She was adopted and had a happy childhood, but longed to find out her identity
- With the Long Lost Family team’s help, she found she is Scottish and Nigerian
This is the emotional moment a woman met her four siblings for the first time on Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace after being abandoned on the steps of a London tower block as a newborn.
Niki Weedon, 35, of Chigwell, Essex, was found opposite a police station as a baby in April 1987, and named after the officer on duty that day, who was handed the youngster by a concerned resident who had stumbled upon her.
She was adopted and had a happy childhood, but longed to find out her identity, turning to the Long Lost Family team for help – and thanks to DNA testing they discovered she is Scottish and Nigerian.
Researchers also found the teaching assistant’s late parents and four full siblings – who were shocked to discover they had another sister. Three of the siblings are older than Niki and one is younger.
They explained that their mother suffered with depression following the death of two of her children in infancy, as well as many miscarriages. Meanwhile, their father was diagnosed with schizophrenia around the time of Niki’s birth.
It was suggested that because of these struggles, Niki’s birth mother decided to abandon her daughter where she could be found.
In emotional scenes that aired last night, the siblings were seen meeting one another for the first time.
Niki Weedon (pictured), 35, of Chigwell, Essex, was found opposite a police station as a baby in April 1987, and named after the officer on duty that day, who was handed the youngster by a concerned resident who had stumbled upon her
In emotional scenes that aired last night on Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace, Niki was seen meeting her four full siblings for the first time, pictured
At the start of the programme, Niki showed the cameras her hospital tag, which read ’31-3-87 or 1-4-87′ for her date of birth, alongside a question mark.
‘Seeing it with the question mark does make me quite sad that they don’t know when I was actually born,’ she admitted. ‘I was found at 7.58am… I need to understand “why did she leave me in the way that she left me”.’
She added: ‘It does affect me, I feel like everybody I love and care for is going to leave me because the first person that should’ve stayed, left. You think “Did I do something wrong?”, it’s very hard.’
Niki also met with the police officer who was on duty when she was discovered, and who she was named after.
The police officer told Niki: ‘I do remember you were found… just in view of the police station. I’ve always thought over the years that you were absolutely meant to be found, sweetie, you really were.’
Niki said: ‘I just never thought that my birth mother wanted someone to actually find me. I actually feel a bit better that I was so close to the police station, that was really comforting.’
Niki was adopted and had a happy childhood, but longed to find out her identity, turning to the Long Lost Family team for help – and thanks to DNA testing they discovered she is Scottish and Nigerian
Researchers also found the teaching assistant’s late parents and four full siblings – who were shocked to discover they had another sister. Pictured meeting one another for the first time
They explained that their mother suffered with depression following the death of two of her children in infancy, as well as many miscarriages. Meanwhile, their father was diagnosed with schizophrenia around the time of Niki’s birth
Eventually researchers found a match with Niki’s DNA and discovered her older brother John. Sadly, Niki’s birth mother died in 2008, aged 50, and her birth father passed away aged 35.
The Long Lost Family team also learnt that Niki was one of five children, having another two older siblings and one younger sibling.
Co-host Nicky Campbell met with the four of them to discover what reasons their mother possibly had for abandoning their sister.
One of Niki’s brothers, Adam, said: ‘At first I just literally didn’t believe it. Very unexpected… I was just completely overwhelmed with confusion and questions.’
‘I thought “No that can’t be true” and I called my little brother and he was gobsmacked,’ added John.
Sister Tanita said: ‘When we’ve grown up, we’ve always know Mum to be very protective of her children so that’s why I’ve accepted now, she must’ve been at her lowest of lowest points to have ever considered that.’
It was suggested that because of these struggles, Niki’s birth mother decided to abandon her daughter where she could be found
One of Niki’s brothers, Adam (pictured), said: ‘At first I just literally didn’t believe it. Very unexpected… I was just completely overwhelmed with confusion and questions.’
Sister Tanita (pictured right) said: ‘When we’ve grown up, we’ve always know Mum to be very protective of her children so that’s why I’ve accepted now, she must’ve been at her lowest of lowest points to have ever considered that.’
Niki’s other sister, who for personal reasons decided she didn’t want to be on camera, explained that their birth mother could become ‘very withdrawn, very quiet, she’d shut herself off in her room. It was pretty hard growing up with that.’
Tanita added: ‘In our family at the time, we had dad, who wasn’t well, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
‘So I guess it must’ve been way, way too much of everything that was all going on. They tried their best,’ she said, while John added: ‘We all felt loved… we all had love.’
Co-presenter Davina McCall then checked in with Niki, who was told about her parents’ passing away from the cameras.
‘What’s it been like since you got the news?’ Davina asked, to which Niki replied: ‘Just upset, heartbroken, a little bit of anger, just mixed emotions at the moment.’
The presenter also delivered the news to Niki about having three older siblings and one younger sibling, who all grew up with their parents.
‘That’s very hard to hear because you think, “what was wrong with me?”, admitted Niki. ‘It’s so much to take in, I just don’t get why I wasn’t kept?’
Niki also met with the police officer (pictured) who was on duty when she was discovered, and who she was named after
The police officer told an emotional Niki (pictured): ‘I do remember you were found… just in view of the police station. I’ve always thought over the years that you were absolutely meant to be found, sweetie, you really were.’
She was then told about her birth mother’s battler with depression and her birth father’s schizophrenia diagnosis, with Davina saying: ‘So they were contending with a lot of issues.’
‘I wasn’t expecting all this,’ admitted Niki as she broke down in tears.
The mother-of-two also learnt that her birth father was British and partly Scottish, while her birth mother was half-Nigerian, half-Scottish.
‘That brings me some happiness to know,’ said Niki.
Eventually, Niki travelled to meet her siblings, with the five of them sharing an emotional hug before Tanita said: ‘Welcome to the family, girl.’
Speaking about the meeting, Niki said: ‘As soon as I walked through that door, it was such an amazing feeling. I feel like I’ve known them a long time, even though I haven’t.’
She added: [I’m] sad that I missed out on all the laughter that they had, as they sounded that they had fun and happy times and it’s quite sad that I wasn’t part of that.
‘Hearing about my birth mother, brings a little bit of comfort for me to know that she didn’t forget about me.
My siblings have made me feel very happy, loved and I think the biggest thing is accepted. I feel part of them. It’s such an amazing feeling.’
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