In aftermath of son’s death, Ohio man finds twin daughters he didn’t know he had
ASHTABULA, Ohio — Life felt bleak for Ceejay Metcalf.
In April 2012, the Ohio man’s son was killed in Afghanistan. Later that year, his father died.
Memorials and funerals in multiple locations concluded with the burial of his son, Michael Metcalf, in Arlington National Cemetery. Shortly after, a house fire destroyed many of the physical items that connected him to his son.
“It was survival just to make it every day,” Metcalf said.
On April 23, 2017, the day after the fifth anniversary of his son’s death, Metcalf received a text message from an unknown number.
“Hello good afternoon. This is going to be a strange, but by any chance did you live in Miami back in the late 1980s? And did you know some one by the name of Maydelin?” read the text from a woman named Madania Metcalf.
Metcalf, 56, grew up in Ashtabula — a port city of 18,000 on the shores of Lake Erie — and then moved to Florida after he graduated from high school. He spent 24 years in south Florida before moving back to Ashtabula in 2003.
So, Ceejay replied that he had lived in Miami at the time, but Maydelin’s name didn’t ring a bell. But Madania’s next text opened up a new and unique relationship.
“I’m on this journey to find my father and the only thing I know is his name is Ceejay Metcalf and he may be Italian. I have searched for many years for this very unique name and you are the only person I have found that may fit that description,” she texted.
After a few more texts — and a DNA test — Ceejay realized he was the father of two 31-year-old women, Madania and Medalia Metcalf. He was also a grandfather — something he didn’t think he’d ever be.
“I can’t tell you how many times I cried in this house thinking I would never be a grandfather,” he said.
Madania Metcalf said she was acting on the suggestion of a friend that she use Facebook to find her father.
Madania and Medalia had questioned their mother, Maydelin Rodriguez, about their father since they were young girls. She told the girls she had talked to a Ceejay Metcalf about the fact that she was pregnant and he asked how he would know the baby was his.
Ceejay confirmed the story and said they did not have a long-term relationship and Rodriguez told him she didn’t want anything from him, so no paternity test was ever taken.
That was the last he heard from her. Ceejay said he had a nice conversation with Rodriguez over the phone recently.
“We were both young,” he said.
But by telling her daughters their father’s name, she kept open the possibility of a miraculous reunion.
Madania Metcalf said her mother went to California for 18 months a little after the twins were born before returning to Florida. Rodriguez then tried to check with a former employer and was told Ceejay had died, according to Madania and Ceejay.
But the girls kept wondering if there was any chance he was still alive and never gave up finding him.
Now, an in-person reunion is planned for June 14 in Miami.
Both Madania and Ceejay said they believe Michael Metcalf — Mike — had a hand in helping reunite the family.
Madania said a photograph on Ceejay’s Facebook page, dedicated to Mike, showed a young Mike on Ceejay’s shoulders. The resemblance, particularly a rare ear trait Madania and Ceejay share, was unmistakeable.
“I lost my breath. It was like a punch in the gut,” Madania said.
Ceejay also thinks his son was active in the process. He said the truck route he was driving when he heard of his son’s death was the same one he was on when he heard he was Madania and Medalia’s father.
All three are anticipating their reunion, coming in just nine days.
“I am so excited. He is coming on the 14th. All my friends and co-workers are looking forward to it,” Madania said.
Medalia said she is looking forward to introducing him to her children Joshua Torrez, 12, and Maiah Torrez, 3.
“I am excited for my kids to have a biological grandfather,” she said, adding, “I am excited. I guess I have mixed emotions. I’m 31…I definitely want to get to know him and the family.”
As for Ceejay, he credits his girlfriend, Judy Ebersole, for helping him focus on the positives, which includes a new commitment to church, and said life has been getting better.
“I used to believe I had the worst luck, and now I believe I am the luckiest,” Ceejay said.