Selena Gomez recently opened up about a very personal issue she’s facing with her dreams of becoming a mother. She revealed that due to past health problems, she is unable to carry her own children. These complications could put both her life and the baby’s life at risk.
In a recent interview, the 32-year-old singer and actress spoke candidly about coming to terms with her situation. She discussed the difficult journey of accepting alternative ways to become a mother, like surrogacy or adoption.
Family has always been important to Selena Gomez, and she has openly talked about her wish to have children. As a godmother to her cousin Priscilla’s two kids, she has experienced both the joys and difficulties of parenting.
However, these experiences have also highlighted her own struggles. In a heartfelt interview with Vanity Fair, Gomez shared, “I haven’t ever said this, but I unfortunately can’t carry my own children. I have a lot of medical issues that would put my life and the baby’s in danger. I had to grieve this for a while.”
Though it was upsetting for her, Selena seemed to have found peace. “It’s not necessarily the way I envisioned it,” she said. “I thought it would happen the way it does for everyone. But I’m in a much better place now. I see it as a blessing that there are amazing people willing to help through surrogacy or adoption, which are both great options for me.”
The singer is excited about becoming a mother, no matter how it happens. “At the end of the day, I don’t care. It’ll be mine. It’ll be my baby,” she added.
Over the years, Selena Gomez has been open about her health struggles that make pregnancy too risky for her. In 2015, she revealed that she had lupus, an autoimmune disease, and had to undergo chemotherapy. She took a break from her career because her condition was so severe.
A year later, Gomez also talked about the mental health challenges caused by her lupus, including anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. She shared with People that dealing with these issues brought its own set of “challenges.”
Because of her health issues, Selena Gomez had to take more time off from her career to focus on her well-being. Despite these efforts, her struggles continued. In 2017, Gomez underwent a life-saving kidney transplant, with the kidney donated by her close friend, Francia Raisa.
She publicly expressed her gratitude to Raisa and her medical team for their support during this challenging time. On Instagram, Gomez wrote, “I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much, sis.”
Unfortunately, Selena Gomez’s challenges didn’t stop there. In 2020, she shared that she has bipolar disorder. During an Instagram chat with Miley Cyrus, Gomez talked about how understanding her condition helped her feel less scared.
“It doesn’t scare me once I know it,” Gomez explained. She said that learning more about her mental health issues allowed her to take charge of her own story.
These health challenges have certainly shaped Selena Gomez’s outlook on life and her future plans, which now include her relationship with music producer Benny Blanco.
Initially friends and collaborators on hits like “Same Old Love” and “I Can’t Get Enough,” Gomez and Blanco began dating in 2023. Their relationship has since grown into a publicly affectionate and supportive partnership.
Although Gomez’s journey is deeply personal, her willingness to share her struggles has touched many people. Her revelation led to a wave of empathy and support from fans and online users. One fan commented, “That’s sad for her, but she definitely has options, and she’ll make a great mom someday!”
Meet Myrtle, the Woman Who Was Born With 4 Legs and Eventually Became a Mom
Josephine Myrtle Corbin was born with a rare birth defect called polymelia, meaning born with extra limbs, in her case, she had 4 legs, 2 normal ones and 2 smaller ones that grew from her hips. But there was more to it. She also had 2 sets of reproductive organs and 2 pelvises. Because of this rare occurrence, she’s probably one of the few people in history considered wonders. Let’s delve into Myrtle’s story and discover her exceptional life milestones.Myrtle was considered a rare and remarkable case of human development.
Josephine Myrtle Corbin, an American sideshow performer, came into the world in 1868 as a remarkable medical rarity. Affected by a condition known as dipygus, she possessed two lower bodies from the waist down. This unusual phenomenon occurred due to her body axis splitting during development, resulting in two separate pelvises side by side. Remarkably, her smaller inner legs were paired with one of her outer legs. While Myrtle could move her inner legs, but they were too weak to walk on.
Born in Tennessee to her parents, William and Nancy, Myrtle’s arrival brought both wonder and concern. At 25, her father, William, and 34-year-old mother, Nancy, welcomed the unique little Myrtle into their lives. Medical professionals noted that if Myrtle had been delivered breech, with her bottom first, it could have been potentially fatal for both her and her mother. Thankfully, Myrtle’s early days were promising, as she displayed signs of strength, weighing 10 lb (4.5kg) just 3 weeks after her birth.
Myrtle’s father was facing financial hardship and had to think of ways to support his growing family.
© Charles Eisenmann (1855-1927) / Wikimedia Commons, © Public domain, © Palette.fm
At the age of 5 weeks, people had the opportunity to visit William Corbin and marvel at his four-legged daughter for a small fee. As the years passed, Myrtle grew up accustomed to the constant stares and astonishment from those who encountered her rare condition. Her inner legs never fully developed, her right foot was clubbed, and both of the smaller legs had 3 toes on each foot.
Over the following decade, William took Myrtle on a journey across the country, where she participated in fairs, sideshows, and dime museums. By the time she turned 14, she had achieved success and managed to secure a lucrative contract paying her an unusually high salary of $250 per week.
The four-legged girl, Myrtle, had a younger sister named Ann, who fortunately did not suffer from any birth defects.
Myrtle married when she was 18 and later became a mother.
© James R. Applegate (1849–1910), Philadelphia / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain, © Palette.fm
As Myrtle entered adulthood, she grew weary of the constant attention she received due to her condition. At 18, she decided to marry James Bicknell, a medical student, after which she retired from her performing career. Interestingly, her fame had inspired others to attempt to fake her unique deformity, but all of these impostors were eventually exposed as frauds.
A year into their marriage, Myrtle experienced troubling symptoms like fever, nausea, headaches, and side pains. Concerned, she sought medical attention, and to her disbelief, the doctor revealed that she was pregnant on her left side. Myrtle skeptically responded, saying, “If it had been on my right side, I would come nearer believing you are correct.” The pregnancy proved challenging for her health, and doctors even advised her to consider an abortion due to the severity of her illness. However, Myrtle managed to recover swiftly.
Over the following years, James and Myrtle welcomed seven more children into their family. Tragically, only 5 of them survived infancy, 4 daughters and a son.
© Unknown author / Wikimedia Commons, © Public Domain
The family lived a quiet life until their 5 children reached adulthood. Then Myrtle re-entered the show business. In 1909, when Myrtle was 41, she was a part of Huber’s Museum exhibit, appearing as The Four-Legged Girl from Cleburne, Texas. She often dressed her 4 legs in matching shoes and socks, to the audience’s delight. She was making $450 per week at the time.
In 1928, Myrtle developed a skin infection on her right leg, and the doctor diagnosed her with erysipelas or a strep infection. A week later, on May 6th, 1928, Myrtle passed away. Her casket was covered in concrete, and family members kept watch until it was fully cured to prevent grave robbers from stealing her remains.
Almost a century later, Josephine Myrtle Corbin Bicknell continues to inspire others by proving that even in the 19th century, a woman could forge a successful career and become a mother all at once.
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