A WOMAN found much more than she bargained for after appearing on Channel 4’s popular TV show, First Dates.
Despite not finding the man of her dreams, Katie Kumar ended up reuniting with a long lost sister – and the pair have since grown so close they “can’t imagine” life without each other.
Katie shared the incredible story to her TikTok account, @katiekumarr, which has since been viewed 401,000 times.
In her touching clip, she says she appeared on the teen version of First Dates in 2021, wanting to share her experience of being adopted and express her gratitude for the “family and life” she has now.
Katie said she didn’t think she’d be accepted onto the show when she applied.
Instead, she was more interested in spreading awareness by telling the story of her adoption.
Having grown up “in and out of foster care” since birth, Katie said she had some contact with her parents.
Aged three, she was separated from her biological siblings and fostered by a family who later permanently adopted her.
Despite knowing she had siblings, Katie lost contact with them and “never thought” she’d be able to find them again.
Meanwhile her sister Louise, a few years older than Katie, had also been adopted by a different family.
The pair grew up apart from each other, and despite remembering one another, “never knew where to start looking.”
That was until Katie appeared in an episode of Channel 4’s dating show Teen First Dates.
Teen First Dates
The show aims to help 16 to 19-year-olds “take their first steps in the land of real-world dating.”
Each episode sees host Fred Sirieix play matchmaker with a pair of hungry-for-love teens, who bond over a romantic dinner.
Sisters reunited
Despite not finding the man of her dreams, Katie found someone else just as significant.
After her episode aired, she received a life-changing Facebook message from somebody claiming to be her long lost biological sister.
The message, from a woman named Louise, read: “Hello love, I know this is so random but I won’t forgive myself if I don’t find out the answer.
“Basically, I seen you [sic] on First Dates and you said you was [sic] adopted, well so am I and I know I have a sister a few years younger than me, she would be your age and her name’s Katie too and I’m from Birmingham too.”
Louise went on to say that the pair shared a white mother and Afghan father.
She wrote: “I know your [sic] probably not my sister and you probably won’t even answer this message but it’s worth asking because what are the chances.”
After confirming their mother’s name, Katie wrote back: “We are sisters?!”
She told Louise their situation was “crazy” and that she’d been left “speechless,” before they continued to verify their relations.
After meeting, the pair grew close and Katie says she is “so grateful” she has her sister back in her life.
She said they get on “effortlessly,” have the same interests and she feels “so lucky” that they have been reunited.
Users react
Viewers in the comments were gobsmacked at the emotional story.
One person wrote: “You went on the show to find love, and found love in its most powerful form, I’m so happy for you and your sister.”
While another person said: “This is a true miracle, enjoy the rest of your lives together girlies, I’m so happy you found each other.”
And somebody else commented: “This is insane! Some things are truly meant to be!”
How does adoption work?
In the UK, there is lengthy process involved with adopting a child and it can take up to six months for the paperwork to be finalised.
To even be considered, you have to meet the following criteria:
- You must be over 21
- You must be a legal resident of the UK for at least 12 months.
- No criminal convictions – especially any related to the endangerment of children. This applies to everyone your household.
You will also have to go through an inital background check and assesment, which will consider whether you are the right fit for adoption.
Potenital parents will also have undergo training and a process to match them with the right child.
