A daughter has spoken out about the "heartache" she went through after finding out the truth about why she did not look anything like her father.
Alyona Romanova, from Russia, said she grew up hearing the woman who raised her facing endless taunts, and being called a " cheat " by her own husband.
Locals even pointed out that she did not look anything like her father.
However, after a whopping 38 years of research, it emerged that she, along with another woman, Gulsina Kudryakova, had been raised by the wrong parents.
The revelation came after it was learnt that medics at a Soviet hospital in 1982 attached the wrong tags to the newborns.
Alyona, who has distinctly Asian features like many people from the Siberian republic of Tuva, never thought anything different, despite her parents being Slavic-looking.
She was raised by Valentina Baulina, 78, who is actually the biological mother of Gulsina, who was brought up by 67-year-old Vasilya Baimurzina.
Alyona told The Sun that she remembers the relentless village whispers and neighbours' gossip about her mother, saying that it "really hurt" her.
She went on to say that there had been rumours since her birth, but she didn't quite understand them until she was old enough.
In fact, she went as far to say that there was "bitterness, perhaps" in the relationship between her and her family after a while - due to the rumours. While her mum tried to keep it inside of her, it all eventually boiled up.
Meanwhile, Gulsina was one of the only members of her family that had fair hair, and revealed that she felt deprived of a life that was 'stolen' from her. Her mother, Vasilya, eventually decided to squash the doubt and contacted a DNA show on Russia's NTV channel.
Alyona said that as soon as she heard the results of the test, she felt a 'huge relief' and burst into a pile of tears.
However, despite being mixed up at birth, the girls first met each other when they were 13, after Alyona's father visited a hospital and was told there was a child in a neighbouring village who was his double.
Speaking about this, she said: "My father rang my mother, told her this, and my mum took a photo of me to the hospital and showed it to the people who had told my dad about a girl resembling him.”
It was then that the brave teenager took it upon herself to try and track down the family in the village of Pokrovka.
However, her hopes of a reunion were squashed as the door was shut in her face by her biological mum. She said that her family did not accept her, and started yelling and screaming that they did not believe Alyona's story.
Vasilya claimed it was all lies, and eventually kicked Alyona out.
Regardless, she and Gulsina added each other on social media - but barely communicated. Then some years later, the women bumped into each other in Kyzyl, a city close to both of their villages, and struck up a friendship.
The pair went as far as being involved with each other's families, and Alyona was even 'introduced to her biological father and other relatives' who, she says, all accepted her.
She added: “It was obvious - I looked like them. At that moment I was no longer afraid.
“It hurts me that I did not live my life with them, that I did not know them as a family. I well up with tears that so much time has passed.”
Eventually, their friendship led them to being on the TV show, which confirmed what Alyona had always suspected.
But following the results, she says her non-biological parents took it "very hard", while she was prescribed medication to help her cope.
While she says she was happy to prove the truth she has "always known", there was a lot of pain. Alyona also said that her biological mum is now a "stranger" to her, saying that things just aren't the same when they are together.
Valentina also went on to acknowledge that she could never be as close to her blood daughter, Alyona is closer to her because she raised her, saying that the mother is 'not the one who gave birth, but the one who raised the child'.
Meanwhile, the other mum, Vasilya, went on to admit that the results of the DNA test were "very unexpected", despite there being speculation and accusations over the years.
Vasilya added: “I did not believe it until the very end."
In recent years, Russia has horrifyingly seen the number of swapped babies stories come to light decades later.
A lawyer - who was representing Alyona and Gulsina - said that the story, which has been publicised, has deepened the pain.
However, he added that the victims are seeking compensation in the Russian courts.
The families have also now received an apology from the hospital.
But chief doctor at Kizilsky maternity hospital, Alla Vasilyeva, said that it is "very difficult and almost impossible" to swap children at maternity hospitals.
She went on to explain that the tags on the babies could not have been confused, and was left shocked that this incident occurred, saying it is a "disgrace" this happened at all.
However, none of the medical staff who were involved remain at the hospital, or are deceased.
