La sangre no miente

Summary

Gabriel Sebasco’s story is a poignant journey of identity, loss, and reunion. Kidnapped as a baby during Argentina’s military dictatorship, he was raised by an adoptive family who revealed his true origins when he was 7. Driven by questions about his biological parents, Gabriel embarked on a search for the truth. After years of uncertainty, he was eventually contacted by the National Commission for the Right to Identity (CONADI), learning that his real name was Gabriel Matías Sebasco and that his parents had been searching for him. His emotional reunion with his father and family marked a new chapter in his life and symbolized the power of reclaiming one's identity.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gabriel Sebasco was kidnapped along with his mother at the age of two months on January 11th, 1977, in San Martin, Buenos Aires, and raised by a married couple in Pergamino.
• 😀 At the age of 7, Gabriel was told he was adopted, but he chose to not ask further questions about his origins at that time.
• 😀 At the age of 17, Gabriel finally decided to inquire more about his origins and was told his biological parents had died in a police confrontation, leaving him and other children orphaned.
• 😀 Gabriel was registered under a false birth certificate with fabricated details, which added complexity to his search for his biological family.
• 😀 Gabriel struggled with the fear that finding his biological family could lead to legal consequences due to the falsified documents surrounding his adoption.
• 😀 Despite the fear of potential legal repercussions, Gabriel reached a point where he could no longer suppress his need to find out about his biological family.
• 😀 After years of uncertainty, Gabriel began the process of searching for his family through the National Commission for the Right to Identity (CONADI), eventually undergoing DNA testing.
• 😀 A year and nine months later, Gabriel received a call from CONADI confirming his identity and that his real name was Gabriel Matías Sebasco, with his mother, María Leiva, being missing and his father actively searching for him.
• 😀 Gabriel’s emotional reaction upon learning the truth about his parents and identity was mixed with shock and relief, as he discovered his father was alive and had always been searching for him.
• 😀 After meeting with CONADI, Gabriel decided to meet his father and family, which led to an emotional reunion in Plaza de Mayo, where he met his father, aunt, and others who had spent years searching for him.
• 😀 Gabriel’s story highlights the long search for truth and identity, and the importance of confronting history to find closure, offering hope to those who may have doubts about their own identity.

Q & A

What happened to Gabriel Sebasco when he was just two months old?

Gabriel Sebasco was kidnapped along with his mother in San Martin on January 11th, 1977. They were taken by a police officer from Buenos Aires to Pergamino, where Gabriel was placed with a married couple who could not have children.

When did Gabriel first learn that he was adopted?

Gabriel first learned that he was adopted at the age of 7, when his adoptive parents told him that he was not their biological child but 'a son of the heart.'

How did Gabriel feel after learning that he was adopted?

Gabriel felt confused and had many doubts. He did not want to discuss the matter further with his adoptive parents and closed the conversation, not wanting to know more at that time.

What significant discovery did Gabriel make when he was 17 years old?

At the age of 17, Gabriel finally asked his adoptive parents again about his origins. They revealed that his biological parents had died in a confrontation with the police, and he had been placed with his adoptive family to avoid being raised in a state institution.

What was revealed to Gabriel later regarding his birth certificate?

Gabriel discovered that his birth certificate was falsified, including a false signature from a doctor, which made him hesitant to investigate further due to the potential legal consequences.

Why did Gabriel eventually decide to seek out his biological family?

Despite his fears, Gabriel realized that he had the right to know his true identity and family. After years of internal conflict, he decided to search for his biological family, acknowledging that he couldn’t live with the uncertainty any longer.

How did Gabriel go about searching for his biological family?

Gabriel contacted CONADI (National Commission for the Right to Identity), provided them with the information he had, and underwent a DNA analysis. He waited anxiously for the results, which took about a year and nine months.

What was the outcome when Gabriel received news from CONADI?

Gabriel received a call from CONADI, who informed him that they had found his family. They showed him a photo of his mother and revealed that his real name was Gabriel Matías Sebasco. He learned that his father had been searching for him all along.

How did Gabriel react upon learning the truth about his biological parents?

Gabriel was initially shocked and confused. However, he decided to meet his biological family and was eager to finally close the chapter on his identity search. He was particularly moved by the fact that his father and other family members had always been searching for him.

What emotional connection did Gabriel feel when meeting his biological family?

When meeting his biological family, Gabriel felt a deep emotional connection. He noticed physical similarities with his family members, such as shared mannerisms, and even discovered that his father had similar habits, like going to the barber every month. This reinforced his sense of belonging and gave him hope.