Rachel Houlihan

John calls his lawyer over and over, but he can't get him on the phone. His head is spinning.

John calls his lawyer over and over, but he can't get him on the phone. His head is spinning.

In a text, John reminds her of the DNA test from Prenatal Paternities, Inc. that confirmed him as the boy's father.

In a text, John reminds her of the DNA test from Prenatal Paternities, Inc. that confirmed him as the boy's father.

But there was. Travis's mother had just done another paternity test with the baby's other possible father. I call her and we speak on background, but we're not naming her to protect her family's privacy. She tells me there was something about the way Travis looked that kept reminding her of the other man. It had been bothering her for a while.

But there was. Travis's mother had just done another paternity test with the baby's other possible father. I call her and we speak on background, but we're not naming her to protect her family's privacy. She tells me there was something about the way Travis looked that kept reminding her of the other man. It had been bothering her for a while.

And when things blew up with John, she thought, for better or worse, it was time to test again. John's lawyer steps in, tells him he needs to be retested too. They choose the lab, one that's not Prenatal Paternities, Inc. He's sent to an actual laboratory. There's extensive paperwork, signatures, witnesses, copies of photo ID are taken. John is fingerprinted, photographed.

And when things blew up with John, she thought, for better or worse, it was time to test again. John's lawyer steps in, tells him he needs to be retested too. They choose the lab, one that's not Prenatal Paternities, Inc. He's sent to an actual laboratory. There's extensive paperwork, signatures, witnesses, copies of photo ID are taken. John is fingerprinted, photographed.

This is what's called a legal chain of custody paternity test. And it's the only kind that will stand up in court. And it confirms the unthinkable.

This is what's called a legal chain of custody paternity test. And it's the only kind that will stand up in court. And it confirms the unthinkable.

This baby he loves, this baby he's been raising for eight months, doesn't share a shred of his DNA.

This baby he loves, this baby he's been raising for eight months, doesn't share a shred of his DNA.

John's biological link to Travis was either a mistake or a lie. But before he can wrap his head around how the first company, Prenatal Paternities, Inc., got it so wrong, his lawyer starts calling him, urging him to sign away custody.

John's biological link to Travis was either a mistake or a lie. But before he can wrap his head around how the first company, Prenatal Paternities, Inc., got it so wrong, his lawyer starts calling him, urging him to sign away custody.

The relationship with Travis's mother is now beyond repair. An entirely new family is entering the baby's life. John and his family are being replaced. He sees no other option but to give up his paternal rights. After a month of agonizing, he finally signs the papers. John never sees Travis again.

The relationship with Travis's mother is now beyond repair. An entirely new family is entering the baby's life. John and his family are being replaced. He sees no other option but to give up his paternal rights. After a month of agonizing, he finally signs the papers. John never sees Travis again.

John's mother, Jenny, digs through a clear plastic bin she's put on his coffee table. It's full of mementos from when she was a first-time grandmother. Gosh, it's hard thinking and remembering all this.

John's mother, Jenny, digs through a clear plastic bin she's put on his coffee table. It's full of mementos from when she was a first-time grandmother. Gosh, it's hard thinking and remembering all this.

We're sitting side by side on the big leather couch in John's living room while she pulls out one item after the next. This bin has sat untouched in her attic for eight years.

We're sitting side by side on the big leather couch in John's living room while she pulls out one item after the next. This bin has sat untouched in her attic for eight years.