Through the email access I obtained at the clinic, I saw a notice about a possible close family match.

It did not name a father in the first message.

It asked me to verify my identity and contact the service about whether I wished to proceed.

I read it twice.

“I can’t think about this right now,” I told Elena.

“You don’t have to do it alone.”

We checked the number against the laboratory paperwork, not the link in an unexpected message.

A representative explained that the relative-matching program had found a close relationship requiring further review.