The story of two girls accidentally switched at birth at a Prairie du Chien, Wis., hospital will air on the public radio show “This American Life” this weekend.

Martha Miller and Susan McDonald left the Old San Hospital with the wrong families on a summer day in 1951 and didn’t find out until age 43, said Sarah Koenig, a producer of “This American Life.”
One of the mothers, Mary Miller, knew she didn’t have the right baby from the day she brought Martha or “Marty” home, as she weighed less than she did in the hospital

and didn’t behave like her five other children, said Koenig. However, she didn’t say anything.

The hour-long documentary is told in four chapters, from the two mothers, Mary Miller and Kay McDonald; and the daughters, Martha “Marty” Colwell and Susan Boutni.

“They are really honest about it in a way that is pretty rare to find in a radio interview,” said Koenig. “They were really open with us, which was incredibly brave of them.”

In the end, all said they were glad to know what happened, said Koenig.

“I think there is something so powerful about biological connections,” she said. “I think both girls always felt a little different in their families, growing up.”

The show will air at 3 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday on Minnesota Public Radio 91.1- FM.

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