The woman had grown accustomed to facing rejection from men due to her appearance. She had often encountered hurtful and offensive comments from them, which, looking back, could have severely damaged her belief in love. However, those comments did not succeed in shattering her spirit.
Throughout the years, Marna Michele had endured numerous failed relationships that could have potentially devastated her life and shattered her self-confidence. Despite these hardships, she continued to hold onto the hope of a brighter future.
Michele firmly believed that the perfect partner for her still existed. As a teenager, she could never have fathomed the opportunity to openly express and write about something as deeply personal as her own love life.
In particular, she had the chance to share her experiences about the love of her life! The reality was that she had a unique ability, requiring her to use a wheelchair for mobility, which inevitably narrowed her dating prospects compared to those without disabilities.
How and Why Did Men Reject Marna?
Michele’s journey began with her diagnosis of arthrogryposis at birth, a condition characterized by the impaired development of joints and congenital joint contractures throughout the body. From the age of five to thirteen, she relied on leg braces to assist with mobility. However, as she grew older, her circumstances took a different turn.
She discovered that standing put a significant strain on her body, causing excessive stress on her bones, ultimately necessitating the use of a wheelchair. During her teenage years, she endured bullying due to her disability, especially when she attempted to navigate the world of dating.
As she grew older, Michele turned to the popular dating app, Tinder, hoping for a more positive experience. However, her encounters on the app proved to be equally discouraging. Reflecting on her time using Tinder, she disclosed that for approximately six months, she mostly encountered individuals posing inappropriate questions, leaving her disheartened. She expressed her frustration by stating:
“I would even get told I was not worth loving because of my disability.”
Despite facing bullying, Michele’s confidence remained intact, and she attributed her self-assurance to embracing her condition. Throughout her life, she underwent multiple surgeries, including one on the day she was born, as well as two surgeries on each ankle and leg, among others.
She vividly recalled the profound heartbreak she experienced when she was first referred to as a “cripple” during her junior high years. The incident left her in tears for several days, until she eventually questioned why she was allowing those hurtful words to affect her. The bullying and derogatory remarks targeting her disability only began when she reached middle school.
Although the hurtful comments shocked and wounded her, she refused to let them inflict pain or ruin her day. As she ventured into the world of dating during her teenage years, she encountered numerous challenges. It was during high school when she realized that many boys struggled to overcome their prejudices towards her disability.
How Marna Met the Love of Her Life?
Robert, whom Michele affectionately referred to as the “love of her life,” was among the men who responded favorably to her. He quickly became her most cherished boyfriend, and Michele expressed her gratitude for meeting him on the app.
From the moment they crossed paths, the woman recognized Robert’s extraordinary qualities. Despite being aware of the unkindness that could exist, Michele remained committed to online dating and considered herself fortunate to have encountered the “kindest man” she had ever met.
Reflecting on their interactions on Tinder, Robert’s girlfriend noticed a distinct difference in the way they communicated compared to her conversations with others. Typically, when engaging with someone, they would inevitably inquire about her disability and wheelchair within a day of conversing.
Nevertheless, Robert set himself apart by engaging in two weeks of conversation with Michele without ever bringing up her wheelchair. It was only when they were preparing for their first date that she felt the need to confirm if he was aware of her disability. Michele texted him, asking directly, and his response was as follows:
“Yeah, it’s on your profile; I don’t care, that doesn’t matter.”
Michele couldn’t help but feel a sense of foolishness for bringing up her disability, as it had become a reflex due to the countless encounters with other men who always made a point to mention it. This realization only further highlighted Robert’s exceptional nature, as he never made her feel inadequate or limited.
Robert consistently remained non-judgmental and continuously supported Michele. He had a remarkable ability to instill unwavering confidence and make her feel incredibly beautiful. By 2021, it became evident just how devoted Robert was to their relationship when he took the significant step of becoming Michele’s fiancé.
On March 3, 2022, Michele shared Instagram pictures of her and Robert in different settings, wishing him a happy 36th birthday and proclaiming him the “greatest man of all time!!!”
Describing her husband as her ultimate best friend, Michele expressed how he made life delightful and effortless. She eagerly want to spend another 36 years and beyond with him, declaring her eternal love for her “beautiful man.”
Robert was characterized as a person of strength, honesty, kindness, humor, acceptance, and creativity. Being with him allowed Michele to embrace her true self, and each day she found herself growing in self-love, wishing the same for him.
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