At just 12 years old, Devan Merck from Georgia in the U.S. was diagnosed with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome: a disorder where you have no vaginal canal, no cervix and an abnormal uterus.
Not only that, but because of this disorder, at high school, Devan was constantly teased, with her peers calling her names and her then-boyfriend, who she first lost her virginity to, taunting her for being different.
Fortunately, after this traumatic experience, Devan found love with her now-husband Trent, 28, who she has been happily married to for the last five years.
Now 23 and having had a ‘man-made’ vagina created for her using skin taken from her bottom, Devan, with Trent, has just discovered that despite her reproductive system not being properly formed, she still has working ovaries.
And it is this revelation that has prompted her to harvest her eggs and try to start a family via a surrogate.
“For years I was bullied and felt different,” she tells Barcoft Media.
“But since I met my husband my life has changed completely. We recently discovered I have both my ovaries and we are hoping to have a biological child of our own.”
“Everything I’ve been through has been me stronger and I think I will make an amazing mother.”
But IVF treatment and surrogacy doesn’t come cheap, so the couple have created a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise $20,000 to make their dream of having their own family come true.
“I strongly believe that with the help of our loving family and friends,” Devan wrote on their GoFundMe page.
“We can one day have a baby of our own. Thank yous will never be enough, and we will forever be grateful to everyone who supports us during this time to reach our goal.”
