Testimonials
I've had the privilege to help numerous individuals uncover their family roots. For me, it is a challenging puzzle. For my clients, it is a life-changing gift. Below are just a few testimonials from some of my clients.
"It took Alana only 3 weeks to find my son's father! This has all been so exciting! .....I would recommend her highly to anyone looking for genealogical answers and solving the problem of sorting out DNA matches."
Lynda H., Sevierville, TN
I met Alana on the Facebook group site DNA detectives. I am adopted. I had already found my birth mother after many many years of searching. Sadly, she had passed, but I was able to find her sister and brother and two cousins. Disappointed, as they had little information for me, I decided to test my DNA at Ancestry.com. When I received my results, there were no matches pointing me to my mother or her family....or so I thought! That's where Alana saw my post at DNA detectives and asked me if I would like her to help me. I said yes! And the rest is history. Alana started examining my family tree and all my DNA matches. She discovered that I had indeed found the correct birth mother, but the family was much more complicated than I had known. My mother's sister and brother were half siblings, and my mother had a different father. She had found my real grandfather! Through searching records and sorting people out, Alana made an extensive new family tree for me, and I discovered aunts, uncles, cousins, and my mother's full brother and sister. She helped me open up a whole new world. Not only did she do this for me, Alana helped my 43-year-old son find his father! My son's father was completely unknown. In December, my son took a DNA test at ancestry.com, and when his results came back he had one second cousin match. Alana immediately started putting together a tree for the match going all the way back to her great great grandparents, their spouses and children, and their children's children! Through a process of elimination, Alana found three brothers, one of which could be my son's father. We contacted the one that most likely could be the father, and he agreed to test his DNA. It was a father/son match! He and my son have met and have a great relationship. I must add, my son now has three half brothers and a half sister he has yet to meet. It took Alana only 3 weeks to find my son's father! This has all been so exciting! If it had not been for Alana's expertise none of this would have been possible. She is a great genealogist and so knowledgeable of deciphering DNA. My son and I are so grateful to have found her. I would recommend her highly to anyone looking for genealogical answers and solving the problem of sorting out DNA matches. Our world has taken a beautiful new turn because of Alana!
UPDATE!: After all the work and finds for myself and my son, Alana found my biological father for me! After the other discoveries, I got a new third cousin paternal DNA match. Within just a couple hours she narrowed in on a man that could potentially be my birthfather. Through finding his obituary, Alana contacted his daughter, who told Alana that her brother had tested his DNA at MyHeritage. I had not done MyHeritage, so Alana uploaded my DNA. Bingo! A match with my half-brother! Because of Alana's help I now know who my father is, and I have a sister and two brothers. My family is complete. Thank you, Alana!
Greg H., Fayetteville, NC
I was a foster child without a family and without hope. I took a DNA test and realized, I really wanted to connect with my father and his family. The unfortunate part of this story is that, all I had was a name for my father. By chance, I saw a recommendation by a person on Facebook within a group that dealt with family trees and finding biological parents. I had heard of these people called “Search Angels” but I absolutely had no experience with dealing with them or what qualifications to be aware of. Alana was so highly praised by this individual, I felt it was worth a shot to see what information she could help me gather. Upon first contact, her directions were clear and concise. Within an hour Alana sent me newspaper articles and clippings of my father who happened to play in the NBA that I never saw before.
She then restructured my family tree by analyzing my DNA to figure out the actual relationships of my closest matches through Ancestry.com. Alana is intuitive and scientific with her approach. You see her scientific training in the way she organizes and breaks down her explanations to you after each round of discovery. Her intuition was showcased every time we hit a figurative wall. Most of the time, I felt it was game over and almost within 24 hours, Alana would not only jump the “wall’ but come back with more information that would lead to a successful path.
What I am most impressed with besides her technical ability, is her sense of urgency. Alana will make you feel like your family is a priority. I truly felt like, she never took a day off searching for my family. She would constantly and consistently maintain communication, giving ideas, clues and timelines to my family, while updating my family tree.
She discovered, I had a half brother, a host of cousins and who my grandparents were on my fathers side. And to think, all she needed initially was a name and my DNA. Thank you Alana, you are truly the personification of a Search Angel.
"You see her scientific training in the way she organizes and breaks down her explanations to you after each round of discovery. Her intuition was showcased every time we hit a figurative wall."
Cindy S., West Siloam Springs, OK
I found out I was adopted around five years ago at age 47. My Aunt told me that my birth father was actually someone I thought was my uncle. After the shock wore off, I wanted to know who my birth mother was. My birth father had very little information for me. He told me her first name but could not remember her last name. I really had nothing much to go on so at one point I decided to have my DNA done through Ancestry.com. It was interesting to find out I was 57% British. A few years went by and I still couldn't figure out who my birth mother was. Every lead was a dead end. I pretty much gave up and thought I would never know who she was. Then very recently I was on Facebook and somehow came across a group called DD Social (a sub-group of DNA Detectives) which was for people searching for family or answers like I was. I posted some of my information and basic story. Soon afterwards Alana offered me her help and said she could do research for me through my DNA and Ancestry.com. I was very happy someone had offered to help because I was clueless as to where to start. I gave Alana the information she needed and she was off researching. I honestly didn't think anything would happen since I had so little information. I was so wrong!!! The very next day I had a message from Alana saying she found my birth mother and a couple sisters, and a couple Aunts!! I was totally (and still am) amazed how quickly Alana was able to figure this all out!! Thanks to Alana, I was able to write my birth mother a letter and we just meet recently--we only live 150 miles from each other. We had a great first reunion and are planning to see each other soon along with my sisters and brothers. I am so thankful to Alana--this would have never happened without her help.
Tanya K., Rochester, NY
As an adoptee, I have been searching for my biological family for nearly my entire life (I just turned 44). After about 25 years of unsuccessful searching, and information that led me to dead ends over and over, I put my search on hold in 2017 until I got closer DNA matches. I tested with Ancestry in January 2014 and had nothing closer than 3rd cousin matches. I tried to piece together my tree with the help of a genealogist and biological family member to no avail. It's very difficult to figure out your roots when there are huge gaps and missing facts. In October 2017, I finally had a breakthrough. I had 1st-2nd cousin matches from each parent's side, one of whom was the biological family member helping me with my own research. One of my 3rd cousin matches, Lynda Hicks, had recently used Alana to find her son's father and her own father with great success. After all of my failures in searching over the years, I reluctantly decided to give Alana a try. I was a skip tracer and investigator, so I know many of the "tricks" for searching, but still came up short due to my lack of information. We weren't sure which relative was from which side when we started searching, but it took Alana a mere 6 days to find my birthmother. We went through each and every branch of my family tree, every family member who was in the appropriate age range, and ruled out those who were not a match. We were in constant communication through the entire process and she was relentless in her research. She was thorough, analytical and extremely considerate. I'll never forget the Sunday night around 10pm when she messaged me and we went through the last family members/grandparents of mine whose children might be a possibility and narrowed it down to 2 women who might be my mother. I reached out to 3 of my mother's siblings on Facebook and 2 days later I was sitting across the table meeting my aunt for the very first time. The fact that Alana does this just out of the kindness of her heart to help others is just amazing. I not only found my birth family through her, but also a friend! We still talk on a regular basis and I'm so grateful she came into my life. She just helped a newly found adopted cousin on my mother's side find his birth family, too. I sincerely urge you to contact Alana. You definitely won't be disappointed!
Laurie E., Danbury, CT
If anyone is looking into Ancestry to find answers about their heritage, extended family or of birth parents, let me have the pleasure to introduce Alana Edwards. I began the quest to find any and as many answers as I could, but only because of Alana do I now have the answers I have always wanted to know.
Alana worked diligently and tirelessly to navigate all avenues and even roads less traveled to find my matches and create my family tree. She patiently and delicately explained her findings as each piece of the puzzle was revealed, and was equally as excited and filled the same emotion as things for me became emotional. Alana has a genuine enthusiasm for helping other people and a valuable ability to do great research. In my case, her research uncovered my birth parents and more. It has been an incredible journey so far.
Using some of Alana’s enthusiasm for helping other people, I would absolutely recommend inviting her to walk, or run, with you in your quest to find people and answers. With my deepest appreciation and all the best wishes.
Elizabeth H., Sacramento, CA
Every story has a beginning, and mine started last year, just 4 weeks after my father passed away. My father didn't know much about his family history, so I thought it would be fun to explore and give him some answers. I decided to do my DNA through Ancestry, thinking that it would help to have some other matches and trees to fill his out. I was naive, and really didn't know what I was looking at. So I had my siblings test and all 4 of us came back as 1/2 siblings! Yep, 4 different fathers. I was so upset that I had opened a Pandora's Box, and I really didn't know where to start looking. I met Alana on DNA Detectives and felt so relieved that she offered to help. I had no idea where to start, and was overwhelmed. So far, with her help, and guidance we have located 3 of the fathers, and are working on the 4th. I really don't know what I would have done without Alana. I highly recommend her -- she is kind, supportive, and so knowledgeable, and can put the pieces of the puzzle together for you. Thank you for everything, Alana!!
"Alana has a genuine enthusiasm for helping other people and a valuable ability to do great research."
Lisa A., Danville, IA
I am 50 years old and have been searching over half my life for my biological family. I had my DNA test results entered on ancestry.com in July 2015. Many 2nd/3rd cousins came up and I emailed several through the years, but no one knew of any adoptions that matched with my background. Then Alana reached out to me in January of 2017. After only two days, Alana had narrowed down my birth mother and two possible brothers for my birth father. Absolutely blew me away!! After figuring out a way to reach my birth mother, she called me and shared with me who my birth father was. It was one of the brothers! I have been blessed to have a wonderful reunion with my birth mother, her husband, and my siblings. I recently attended a family reunion on my birth fathers side. He passed away in 2006. However, I was welcomed warmly by two siblings and the rest of the family. Without Alana’s talent I would not have had such a beautiful experience.
"After only two days, Alana had narrowed down my birth mother and two possible brothers for my birth father. Absolutely blew me away!!"
Ann A., Louisville, KY
The puzzle is now complete and I will forever be grateful for the tireless and persistent help from Alana. I began the search for my birthfather in May of 2016 through DNA testing with Ancestry.com. It turned out to be a tougher search than expected due to multiple marriages, etc. I had two search angels helping me and sometimes a third since it was proving to be a difficult case. Alana applied the scientific data with intuitive thought and did not give up on me! By March of 2017, she had put together a probable scenario based on my ancestry tree that she had compiled. Once locating and persuading my probable half sister to complete the DNA testing, the work was complete and based on the results, I had a half sister who had always thought that she was an only child. Unfortunately, my birth father was deceased but my sister sent pictures and informed me of the man that he was. That was the missing piece and thanks to Alana, I know what I could not have done alone. My newfound sister and I are planning our meeting in February. We have been corresponding regularly via Facebook messenger and are so excited to finally meet!! If you are searching as well, please don’t give up and allow the expert, Alana, to help you find the missing piece as well. I’m very thankful for her help!!