A couple has shared how an at-home DNA test revealed their 13-year-old son had a different father due to an IVF clinic mix-up years ago.
Donna and Vanner Johnson from Salt Lake City appeared on *This Morning* to recount the surprising discovery of their son’s true genetic lineage. They were joined by Devin McNeil, their son’s biological father, and his wife Kelly.
The Johnsons explained to Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield that although their teenage sons, Vanner Jr. and Tim, have distinct personalities, they had never questioned their genetic connection until they decided to take the DNA test “just for fun.”
On the show to encourage others to “ask more questions” about IVF treatments, the couple shared how their story has ended on a positive note. Their son Tim reacted to the news of his genetic heritage with the reassuring words: “Really? Well, you’re still my Dad.”

Donna and Vanner Johnson (pictured on *This Morning* today), from Salt Lake City, underwent IVF in 2007 after conceiving their first son, Vanner Jr., naturally. They welcomed their son Tim following a second successful IVF attempt.


**Friends Reunite:** The families connected online and exchanged photos before meeting in person. Devin (right), Tim’s biological father, described the meeting as “really great.”
Tim’s mother, Donna Johnson, shared with the presenters how her second son was conceived via IVF at the University of Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine in 2007, following the natural birth of their first child. She recalled that while Tim was “a delightful baby, a cranky baby… but we were so happy to have him,” they didn’t question his genetic background despite noticing the distinct personalities of their two sons.
Vanner added that the decision to take the home DNA test came when Tim was 11.
He said: ‘We were curious about ourselves and the DNA and what genes you inherit from your parents – we thought it would be fun to see the boys see that.’
However, the test came back for Tim with the words ‘biological father – unknown’.
Vanner said he never questioned his wife’s fidelity because it was obviously an IVF mix-up and the couple decided to take more tests – without telling their son why.

It was soon confirmed that the mix-up was “one-sided,” with Devin from Colorado being identified as Tim’s biological father with 100 percent certainty.

Appearing on *This Morning* today, both couples shared that their story has had a happy ending, with Vanner continuing to raise Tim as his son.
The DNA test results ultimately led them to Devin and Kelly McNeill in Colorado, confirming beyond any doubt that Devin was Tim’s biological father. Devin remarked on the unexpected news, saying, “That’s not a call you expect. I didn’t really believe it at first. It took multiple conversations before we confirmed it was true.”
Vanner recounted the moment he told Tim, during a drive to get ice cream, that he wasn’t genetically related to him. He described it as “really sweet” when Tim responded, “Really? Well, you’re still my Dad.”
After establishing a connection through phone calls and exchanging photos, the two families decided to meet in person.

Vanner, who is raising Tim as his own son, shared on the show that when Tim learned the news, he simply said, “Really? Well, you’re still my Dad.”

Both the Johnsons and the McNeils have filed a lawsuit against the clinic that treated them in 2017.
Devin described his first meeting with Tim as “really great” and shared that he was overwhelmed with questions about his teenage years. He recounted Tim asking, “How tall were you? Did you have braces? How fast can you type?”
The couples are now pursuing damages from the clinic through their lawsuit.
A spokesperson for the clinic told *This Morning*: “While we cannot discuss specific patient cases or ongoing litigation without consent, ensuring the safety and care of our patients is our top priority. If patients raise concerns about their care, we review our procedures and make necessary adjustments to prevent future issues. Our providers and staff are committed to delivering excellent care and continually improving our practices.”