Years of Searching Lead to a Nursing Home Where She Finds and Cares for Her Biological Father

Heather Riggleman

Deanna Shrodes was prepared to find a grave but years of searching led to a nursing home where she finds and cares for her biological father. "I prepared myself to find a grave, and I now found a person, and it was just absolutely mind-blowing," she said

As an ordained minister, Deanna knew how deeply she was loved by her heavenly father. But she still longed to know where she came from. She had been placed for adoption when she was an infant. 

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When Deanna Shrodes was 27, she finally found her mother, who was reluctant to meet Deanna at all. A mere two months after the meeting, Deanna’s biological mother passed away and took the secret of who Deanna’s father might be to the grave.

But Deanna didn’t give up. Instead, she went to the Lord in prayer, asking him to help find her dad.

Deanna Shrodes Searches For Biological Dad

Left with just a few clues from her mother, she then created a “Finding Mr. Greek” Facebook group. 

Slowly all the puzzle pieces began falling into place. She knew her father was Greek and was from Richmond, Virginia. Then God answered her prayers–literally.

RELATED: Woman Looking for Long-Lost Father Who Didn’t Know She Exists Finds Him Thanks to Stranger

"I told my husband, I told my best friend Laura … I said, 'Listen, guys, you might think I'm crazy, but I was in prayer. God spoke this to me: 'Your father's name is Gus,'" she said

A short time later, the final puzzle piece fell into place. She was matched to a relative through 23andMe who delivered miraculous news when he told her, "I think you're my Uncle Gus' daughter." The next day she got to talk to her father, Gus Nicholas. The 92-year-old was overjoyed because he was no longer alone. He was surrounded by family.

Deanna said, “He said, 'I woke up this morning, and I was alone ... And now this afternoon, I have a daughter, I have a son-in-law, I have three grandchildren. I have great-grandchildren ... I'm not alone in the world anymore,' " she recalled. "And I said, 'No, you're not. You're not.'”

Deanna Shrodes Cares For The Father She Never Knew

Now the pair spend as much time as possible learning about one another. Deanna Shrodes realized how precious life is and how her father may not have much time left. She made the decision to move her father from the nursing home and into her guest bedroom despite barely knowing each other. Here, he is surrounded by love, and family, and gets to tell the stories of his life that his daughter has longed to know her entire life. 

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This incredible story reminds us how God never fails us. He provides all that we need and it’s a gentle reminder that love never fails. 

“It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” 1 Corinthians 13:7.

WATCH: Woman Finds Biological Dad In Nursing Home After Years of Searching

LISTEN: Strangers Discover They Are Related | Woman Found a Whole Family of ‘Mystery’ Creatures

h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: Youtube/CBS Mornings


Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.  

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