Couple Didn't Meet Their Neighbors Until Quarantine, Only To Discover They're Blood Related

May 13, 2020 by apost team

Two families in Los Angeles, California found out they were related after a social-distancing gathering in their neighborhood. Before coronavirus, the families only ever exchanged occasional 'hellos' but now they have discovered a surprise relation that they never would have known otherwise. 

After getting to know each other from a safe distance, the household of Kjetil and Zoe Njoten and that of Erik and Jen Strom realized that they were from the same country of Norway. According to CNN, Kjeti Njoten grew up on Njoten Island in Norway and both of the Stroms' families are also from the country. In fact, the Stroms' hometown was only a few hours from the Island on which Kjeti was raised. 

apost.com

Strom consulted his family history book with his mother and discovered that his great-great-grandfather also had the same last name as Njoten. Njoten had even grown up in the same house where the mutual great-great-grandfather had been raised 100 years ago. 

Njoten told CNN:

"So a crazy coincidence."

Strom said that he has many relatives looking forward to meeting the Njotens. Once at-home restrictions are lifted, the families would like to celebrate with a "huge family meal, a big party," as expressed through what Zoe Njoten told CNN. She said:

"Me and Jen were just squealing and jumping around and all of us were beaming with smiles and desperate to hug but can't."

Erik Strom said:

"There are people from all over the country who are related to us who are interested in coming out and meeting and just participating in the story."

What do you think of this story? Have you ever lived close to a relative you didn't know you had? Let us know your thoughts and be sure to pass this story on to others so they can also read about the coincidence.