Melissa Gilbert can’t believe what she uncovered within her family.
“Well, this has been a remarkable few weeks,” Gilbert, 62, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, July 9. “A few weeks ago, I connected through an app with my fifth biological cousin on my birth mothers side @harleesco. His intrepid research ala @henrylouisgates led me to my biological siblings on my birth mother’s side. I’d always wished for a big brother and I found out I have three. @mattlabrat @lepracon4gold and Mark (who passed years ago).”
Gilbert, who was adopted at birth, said she found her biological father’s family decades ago. It wasn’t until this summer when she discovered additional family members on her mom’s side.
“My older brothers are fantastic human beings. Matt [Tuchscherer] and I are becoming especially close. The true story of our adoptions is a jaw dropper which we will be sharing soon over on @substack,” Gilbert teased. “I’ve always said that I don’t have a family tree, I have a family shrub. It’s now more of a climbing rose vine. Covering an enormous wall with its many different shapes and colored blooms.”
In a separate social media post, Tuchscherer recalled the moment he discovered he had a little sister.
While he acknowledged shock over discovering his sister was a star on Little House on the Prairie, Tuchscherer made it clear it wasn’t what impressed him most about his sibling.
“Before anyone asks, the part that means the most to me isn’t that she’s a public figure. It’s that we’ve finally found each other after a lifetime apart,” he wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “It’s been an incredible few weeks of discovering family history, sharing stories, asking a million questions and getting to know someone I never knew existed.”
In her post, Gilbert — who is currently married to Timothy Busfield — said there could be even more relatives that she doesn’t know about.
For now, she’s simply grateful to have discovered new relationships within her blood relatives. And yes, the actress remains “eternally grateful” for her adoption journey.
“I love my family. Both the family I grew up with and the biological family I have gotten to know and continue to get to know…apparently there is one more half sibling (on my birth fathers side) who we are trying to contact,” Gilbert shared. “Life is such an extraordinary adventure. Even at 62 years old it continues to surprise me. #family #adoption #grateful #allyouneediove.”
