MEET THE GOLD STARS
MADELINE
Trustee, Gold Star, Shining Star, Bright Star, Binary Star
Hi! I am Madeline and I am part of the writing team! l am a 20-year-old college student at The University of Texas at Austin. There I am majoring in biochemistry and am on the pre-med track. I really enjoy hanging out with my friends, exercising, and being outside! I was diagnosed with MRKH in 2017 and ever since I was diagnosed, I knew that I wanted to speak out about MRKH, but I just didn't know how or where. It took me a while to become more comfortable and begin to talk more openly about everything that my diagnosis entailed. Now, I feel like I am at a point where I have come to terms with all that living with MRKH means. I found MRKH Stars on Instagram and looked moreinto the organization. When I realized it was run by young women like myself, I knew that this was the organization for me. I knew that I would be connected to other women who were in similar seasons of their life as I am, and that would promote deeper empathy and understanding for one another.
MALLORY
Rising Star, Gold Star, Shining Star, Bright Star
Hey! My name is Mallory! I go to school in Texas, United States and I am turning 21 in May. I was diagnosed around 15 or 16 years of age. It is a huge blur. I was horrified. I forced myself to believe that it was not real and that it was not actually happening. I told noone and would add comments to the constant girlie conversations about periods, sex, and future kids with my peers. I forced it further and further down until my freshman year of college when I was finally ready to tell my boyfriend that I had been dating for 1 year about my condition. I finally accepted that it was happening, but it did not define me. My condition was not my identity as I feared it would be. I told more and more people about it, and each time I told someone it made me truly accept it. The more people i told the more people i had around me to support and help me through it. I am not fully healed by the pain that comes along with MRKH but I have taken hold of what I have been given and I am ready to help the next girls that were in my shoes.
AYSHA
Shooting Star, Gold Star
Hello! I'm Aysha and I'm on the Shooting Stars team! I'm delighted to recently join the Shooting Stars team, so I can be a MRKH buddy. I'm 32 and reside in London, UK. I was diagnosed with MRKH on 6th January 2004. I can't believe it will be 18 years next month, that I was diagnosed! I'm currently a special needs/general teaching assistant. Soon after diagnosis, I inspired the Boston annual support groups, by telling the Dr and nurse there how much the QCCH's one helped me. I'm so glad many years on they are still going strong. When it comes to coping with MRKH, well where do I begin? It sure has been a rollercoaster of emotions dealing with MRKH, but knowing I've got my global sisterhood has helped me immensely! Despite gaining amazing support online and off, it's only over the pandemic I've felt I can speak up about MRKH. Now that I've finally found my voice, I'm determined to use it to help my MRKH sisters, especially those who are from a similar cultural/religious background to me, as they tend to be quiet about it. Now I've done many vlogs/blogs and even an Instagram live about MRKH. No one should feel alone in this journey and I'm now passionate to help make this path a little easier for my special sisters. I hope to continue to make a difference and support many of my MRKH sisters, by being a part of this amazing, super strong and awesome team!
JACKY
Gold Star
Hi! I’m Jacky and I am on the writing team. I’m 25 and a self proclaimed medical miracle. I was diagnosed with MRKH type 2 when I was 13, but prior to that at birth I was diagnosed with esophageal atresia, VATER syndrome, and spina bifida. I’ve always know my body was different than everyone else’s and MRKH made it even more so. I’m still learning to accept my MRKH diagnosis which only goes to show it is a lifelong journey. I decided to join the MRKH Stars writing team because writing is a passion of mine, and I’d like to get more involved in advocacy work. I think the sisterhood that’s been created is beautiful and I’m so excited to be a part of that. This is such a wonderful initiative for those newly diagnosed with MRKH, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of that!
