Colorado City, Colorado | July 18, 2026: A routine at-home DNA test has led to a life-changing discovery for two American men who learned they were accidentally switched at birth nearly four decades ago. The revelation has prompted both families to file a lawsuit against a North Dakota hospital, alleging negligence that forever altered their lives.
According to the lawsuit, Kyle Bylin and Jeremy Morrison were the only babies born on January 26, 1988, at Unity Medical Center in Grafton, North Dakota. The complaint alleges that the newborns were mistakenly sent home with each other’s biological parents, an error that remained undiscovered for 38 years.
The truth emerged after Bylin randomly received an at-home DNA testing kit during a Christmas gift exchange. His results connected him to relatives he had never known, eventually leading to Morrison, who also underwent DNA testing. The results confirmed that the two men had been switched shortly after birth.
“That’s when my mind was just completely blown,” Bylin said after learning the shocking truth.
Despite the discovery, both men say the families who raised them remain their true parents emotionally. However, they acknowledge that they have been deprived of decades of experiences with their biological families, including childhood memories, milestones, and lifelong relationships.
The lawsuit accuses Unity Medical Center of negligence and seeks compensation for the emotional distress caused by the hospital’s alleged mistake. The hospital has acknowledged that the babies were switched at some point but denies that there is evidence its staff was responsible. Officials said that because nearly 40 years have passed, relevant medical records and staffing documents no longer exist, and none of the employees involved in the births still work at the facility.
The discovery has been emotionally devastating for both families.
“I feel robbed of the life I should have had with my biological son,” said Evelyn Newton, who raised Bylin, adding that no amount of time can replace the missed milestones and memories.
Experts say such cases are extremely rare today. Modern hospitals now rely on electronic identification systems, barcode tracking, and multiple verification procedures to prevent newborn mix-ups, making accidental birth switches far less likely than they were decades ago.
Although the lawsuit seeks accountability, both families say their focus is now on building relationships with their newly discovered biological relatives while preserving the bonds they have shared for nearly four decades.
