Featured Image Credit: @thereal_shaunarae99/Instagram
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, TV And Film
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, TV And Film
A woman with a growth hormone deficiency condition has opened up about a new love interest she's seeing.
Shauna Rae may be 23 years old but she's trapped in the body of an eight-year-old as a result of a condition called restricted growth, also known as dwarfism.
The specific type of dwarfism Shauna has is called pituitary dwarfism - 'a condition caused by insufficient amounts of growth hormone in the body' according to John Hopkins Medicine.
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Shauna developed the condition following a battle with brain cancer as a child - her pituitary gland stopping working, resulting in the 23-year-old's growth halting after reaching a height of 3ft10.
To raise awareness of the condition and give an insight into how it impacts her day-to-day life Shauna launched TLC reality series I Am Shauna Rae.
As well as documenting Shauna's journey to getting her driving license and finding her independence away from her parent's concerned and watchful gaze, the series also explores how 'entering adulthood when the world sees her as a small child' has impacted Shauna's dating life - the 23-year-old having previously being targeted by 'creeps' who 'many not have the best intentions'.
The series has seen Shauna go on a date with someone with the same condition as her as well as a blind date, however, she has since found potential love in an online friend named Dan.
Dan and Shauna first connected when Dan slid into her DMs, having watched her show and been 'inspired' by her journey.
In series two episode six, Shauna's family scope out Dan in person, questioning how the pair will continue their relationship when Dan is from Wales and currently travelling around the world.
Shauna's mum, Patty, - who's never met Dan until now - asks: "So how often do you guys talk? [...] Friendship?"
Shauna explains she's 'not really irritated' by her family asking 'those future questions' but admits she hasn't yet spoken to Dan about them and is just 'letting [the relationship] go as it may'.
"Why do we have to label anything? It is whatever happens, happens," Shauna responds to her mum.
When asked how Shauna would fit into his plans to keep travelling around the world if something more 'buds' between the two of them, Dan explains: "One thing I'd love to give to Shauna is the ability to see the world and different cultures, different places.
"I'd love to show her somewhere amazing around the world."
Shauna's step-dad Mark resolves: "I think Dan would be really good match for Shauna because he's very smart, adventurous. Shauna's smart, not very adventurous.
"I think he could pull her out of the comfort zone but still make her feel safe."
I Am Shauna Rae is available to watch on TLC.