MEET THE SHOOTING STARS
Our Shooting Stars initiative is run by director Tk and connects MRKHers together! Get in touch to be matched with a member of our Shooting Stars team who can be a friend or a helping hand to you on this journey.
Disclaimer: We are not trained medical professionals. For medical support contact your GP.
TK
Director
Co-Chair, Shooting Star, Shining Star, Bright Star, Binary Star
Hi I'm TK, I am the Director and a part of the Superstars team! I am a Shooting Star to help MRKH Warriors! I was diagnosed with MRKH on the 8th of October 2019. When these four little letters changed my life it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. My perfect future had changed and I didn't know what I was going to do. Although it has been tough, there has been an amazing community of people to support and guide me through it. Some days are tough but that's okay. I've learnt to love my MRKH and accept that it is my new adventure.
VICS
Founder, Director
Co-Chair, Shooting Star, Comet, Shining Star, Binary Star
Hey! I'm Vics, I am the Founder and Director of MRKH Stars. I'm on the Superstars, Shooting Stars and Writing teams. I was diagnosed with MRKH in July 2019, and created MRKH Stars in April 2021. My Journey has been far from easy, there have been many bumps in the road, and I am sure there are many more to come! But I have made some of my best friends because of MRKH and we help each other through all of those bumps, something I'm so grateful to have. I founded Stars to build on that sense of belonging, community and easy access to help, focusing specifically for those MRKHers who are young and newly diagnosed. Stars will always be here for you, we are always only a message away!
ALEXA
Shooting Star, Comet
Hello! I'm Alexa and I'm on the writing team! I'm a nurse from Miami, FL. I got diagnosed with MRKH when I was 16 years old. I remember feeling so lost the first few years of my diagnosis, trying to forget it ever happened. As I got older I started to accept MRKH and i have grown a lot because of it. When I found MRKH Stars I thought it would be a great opportunity to get more involved. I am still very private about my MRKH in my personal life. But I want to change that little by little. I think once I start talking about MRKH more, I'm not only helping others but I'm also helping myself. I'm looking forward to sharing my story and helping those who are feeling lost like I once was.
AMY
Shooting Star
Hi, I'm Amy and I'm on the Shooting Stars team! I live in Pittsburgh, PA in the United States and I'm 39 years old. I was diagnosed with MRKH when I was 17. I remember feeling emptiness and fear and sadness when I found out. I remember feeling that I was all alone. It is this feeling of loneliness that I hope I can help with for those who are newly diagnosed. We are not alone! As I got older, and social media became popular, it was mind blowing to find out there was a community of MRKHers that not only existed, but were connected and supporting each other. Knowing that I was not alone, helped me to heal. MRKH has significantly shaped my life, but now I understand that I was born this way for a reason and if it weren't for my diagnosis, I wouldn't have my beautiful life, partner, children, and strength that I have today. I have learned to not only accept my body as it is, but to love it fully. I look forward to sharing my experiences and helping others to heal as I continue to do so as well.
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!
BECKY
Shooting Star
Hi! I am Becky. I'm 22 years old and I got my diagnosis in 2017 when I was 17 years old. At this time I struggled a lot with my mental health and my self confident. To be honest the diagnosis made it much worse. I hated myself and my body. I wanted to know why I am like this so badly. My friends and my family supported as much as they could. But I felt alone. Because no one knew exactly how I was feeling. Through the years I accepted myself day for day. It was a hard journey and it still is. But now I am able to speak about MRKH more openly than in the past. Of course there are still some days I struggle with my mental health. And that's okay and completely normal. It's important to make the best out of it. At the end of the day I can be proud of myself and especially my body. My body went through a lot and is stronger than ever including myself. I joined the team because I know how it felt being alone with MRKH. And now I am able to help other MRKH women out there. And I am so grateful for this opportunity. You are special! Your body is strong! Remember that lovely soul!
CHARLIE
Shooting Star
Hi! I’m Charlie and I’m on the Shooting Stars team. I am the director of the charity MRKH Connect and have been publicly advocating for MRKH for nearly 10 years. Speaking openly about MRKH has helped me connect with my feelings as well as help others understand that their similar feelings are valid and nothing to be ashamed of. I was diagnosed 20 years ago now at the age of 17 and to be honest I don’t know where that time has gone. Those early years in particular were really difficult and it took me a long time to find a way to express my feelings about MRKH in a safe way that helped me feel supported. I am grateful now to see how the community has grown and expanded and how there is more support out there, when we need it most. MRKH is not something we just “get over” and no one with MRKH should feel alone and I am grateful for all the wonderful people I have met and spoken to along my journey and the positive impact it has had. I am always available for a chat and to talk to anyone who needs support or just a friendly ear to listen.
CRYSTAL
Shooting Star, Rising Star, Shining Star, Bright Star
Hi! I’m Crystal, I’m on the Shooting Stars and Writing teams. I was officially diagnosed with MRKH in June 2021. My journey started in July 2021, the first couple of weeks were mentally and physically draining. I felt overwhelmed with emotions and so alone however I had this constant need to hide my emotions and pretend it was not real. I didn’t want to live this reality or have people constantly hovering over me asking me if I was okay when I was not, I was drowning inside. Eventually through this beautiful process of growth and acceptance, I am now able to embrace all these emotions and struggles. Every day is completely different for me, new emotions, new struggles, new challenges, it is not easy but it is so worth it! I have changed in so many unimaginable ways. I LOVE who I am now, I am PROUD of who I am now and I cannot wait to further this scary yet exhilarating journey of MRKH.
KATE
Shooting Star
Hello! I’m Kate and I’m on the Shooting Stars team! I am currently 20 years old, but was first diagnosed at 16. Upon this diagnosis, I remember feeling lost, alone, and angry. It felt as if no one would ever understand what I was going through and how unfair it was. When I found MRKH Stars, I felt hopeful that I would find a community that understands not only the challenges, but also the opportunities that this diagnosis holds. This diagnosis does not define you, nor does it determine your success and I hope to help other young women feel the same.
LAURA
Trustee, Friend, Shooting Star, Protostar, Shinging Star
My name is Laura, I’m 22 from Perth Western Australia, originally born in Scotland. I was 16 when I was diagnosed with MRKH, it turned my world upside down. I lost myself completely. But now, I have found myself because of my MRKH. I found so many amazing communities with other MRKH sisters and now Stars which I can’t wait to be a part of and share my stories with you all! I am currently working as a pharmacy assistant and I absolutely love my job! I’m joining Stars as I’m finally ready to share my story, my struggles, my highs and lows, all of it! I can’t wait to meet more of my MRKH sisters all over the world
LILY
Trustee, Shooting Star, Protostar, Shining Star, Bright Star
I have known that I have MRKH since I was 11 years old, but I didn't know it was called MRKH until March of 2021. I researched and discovered that I have type 2 since I was diagnosed with VACTERL association from birth. Because I was so young, I never really processed everything until a little over a year ago. I am very private about MRKH in my personal life, but I'm using this opportunity of being on the writing team to be more open and start my advocacy journey. I love the immediate sisterhood that is formed between these MRKH warriors and I'm eager to be a part of it. My goal with joining this team is to make sure that new MRKH warriors know they're not alone in their battle because they have an army of sisters behind them to support and cheer them on every step of the way.
MALLORY
Rising Star, Gold Star, Shooting 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.
PRUE
Shooting Star, Comet
Hi I’m Prue, I’m a 36yr old nurse from Melbourne Australia, living in Sydney. I was 17 when I was diagnosed with MRKH. That time in my life from when I was diagnosed was an incredibly difficult time for me. I was subject to so many tests and doctors, who most had never heard of MRKH, it was really lonely and sad period of my life. I wasn’t me anymore. I met my now husband Tom when I was 19, and we’ve been together ever since. We’ve endured over 10 years of trying to conceive with infertility treatments. It’s felt like the longest journey to get here, but now I’m the 3rd women in Australia to have a Uterus Transplant. I couldn’t have gotten through all of this without Tom. Our love and devotion has weathered many storms, but we are stronger for it. Now I feel stronger than ever. I want to use my voice to share my story, inspire and help other women who feel they cannot speak. Thank you to the amazing MRKH Stars for the support!