Jeremy Morrison and Kyle Bylin say they were the only babies born at the hospital on Jan. 28, 1988 — and allege the switch couldn’t have happened anywhere else

Two families are suing a North Dakota hospital, alleging that the facility was responsible for switching two babies at birth.

In a complaint against Unity Medical Center in North Dakota, Jeremy Morrison and Kyle Bylin claim they were the only two babies born at the hospital, arriving just hours apart on Jan. 28, 1988.

However, the complaint alleges that at some point, unbeknownst to their parents, Kyle and Jeremy were switched and “given to the other’s respective biological parents.”

“The employees and/or agents of Unity Medical Center who switched the newborns and then failed to recognize or correct the error were acting within the scope of their employment and/or agency,” according to the complaint, which also lists Jeremy and Kyle’s parents as defendants.

For the next 36 years, the complaint states that Kyle was raised by Elizabeth O’Toole and Terry Morrison, while Jeremy was raised by Evelyn Newton and Keith Bylin.

In a statement by PEOPLE, Unity Medical Center confirms that the two men were “born at our hospital on the same day in 1988” and “apparently were separated from their biological parents,” but denies that the hospital or its staff “were responsible for what occurred.”

“Unfortunately, because of the passage of nearly four decades, the medical and staffing records that might have provided additional clarity no longer exist, and no members of the delivery team from that time are still employed by the hospital,” the statement continued. “While we deeply sympathize with the men and their families, we have found no evidence to support claims that Unity Medical Center or its staff were responsible for what occurred.”

“As caregivers, our hearts go out to both men and to everyone affected by this difficult situation,” they added. “We can only imagine the range of emotions they and their loved ones are experiencing.

However, the two men believe Unity Medical Center was the only place the swap could have occurred.

“Me and Kyle didn’t grow up in the same area; we couldn’t have gotten switched at daycare or anything like that,” Jeremy, who now resides in Colorado, told CBS affiliate KKTV.

Speaking with the outlet, Jeremy said that growing up, he “didn’t have anyone that looked like me in my family.”

Kyle tells PEOPLE that he learned his mom wasn’t biologically related to him after taking a DNA test to try and learn more about her German heritage. Included in the results was Jeremy’s aunt — and based on the large percent of DNA she shared with Kyle, as well as a direct message, they soon deduced that Kyle was her biological nephew.

The complaint, which was obtained by PEOPLE, goes on to allege that Jeremy and Kyle’s 36-year separation from their biological parents caused “permanent and irreparable damage to the plaintiffs and their parent/child relationships.”

In an email to PEOPLE, Jeremy said that he hopes his story can help others out there find the closure they perhaps don’t even know they need.

“I’m afraid if it happened to us, it happened way more than that,” he wrote. “I’m glad the hospital didn’t settle so I could spread the word and awareness.”

Source: https://people.com/men-born-same-hospital-allege-they-were-switched-at-birth-complaint-12020902