TLC is known to find some of the unique stories and center an entire series around them, and 2022 will kick off with I Am Shauna Rae. Starring as herself on the series, Shauna Rae tells the tale of her unique situation, and the show is already generating a whole lot of buzz. Fans will want to tune in to discover the real-life story of the young woman who has had to face struggles in life that most people could never even fathom, let alone journey through.
The cameras follow Shauna Rae's life as she describes her medical struggles and reveals why she is trapped within a little girl's body. Her struggles are real, her story is incredible, and her journey is every bit as rewarding as it is excruciatingly painful to witness at times. The audience is ready to tune in, but before the show airs, we've uncovered all there is to know about the real story behind Shauna Rae's unique story...
8 Shauna Rae Survived Childhood Cancer
Shauna Rae was a perfectly healthy, happy child at birth, but sadly, when she was just 6 months old, she was diagnosed with a very rare form of brain cancer. Of course, this affected her entire family, and her mother prayed for her child's life to be spared and proceeded to seek the medical care that was so desperately needed. Shauna underwent chemotherapy, and thankfully, her life was saved. After such a scary battle to fight for her health, it seemed Shauna was finally in the clear, and nobody expected the news that would come next.
7 The Treatment Saved Her Life, But Stunted Her Growth
The life-saving treatment that Shauna Rae underwent led to a serious and very undesirable side effect that nobody had been able to predict or brace themselves for. During her treatment, Shauna's pituitary gland was damaged, and it stopped functioning normally, leading to her inability to continue to grow. When her pituitary gland went dormant, her entire growth process was stunted, and there was nothing that anyone could do.
6 Shauna Rae Is Currently 22 Years Old
Right now, Shauna Rae is a 22-year-old woman. She has all the emotions and needs of any other woman her age, and for all intents and purposes is ready to move on with her very adult lifestyle. She remains in remission and in good health, but sadly, she is still unable to grow, and she looks far younger than she is. Her body hasn't grown or kept pace with the rest of her development into adulthood, and this is the struggle that TLC promises to capture when the series airs.
5 Shauna Rae Is Trapped In The Body Of An 8-Year-Old
Despite the fact that Shauna Rae is 22 years old, she remains trapped in the body of an eight-year-old. Her physical growth has stopped progressing, leaving her stuck in the body of a child, yet desperately seeking the opportunity to live a healthy, adult life. She thinks, acts, and feels her age, but her body refuses to allow her to continue to physically develop into a woman's body. This has proven to be a huge obstacle in many aspects of Shauna's life, especially when she only stands 3 feet, 10 inches tall.
4 She Desperately Wants To Be Treated Like A Woman
As TLC's cameras roll, Shauna's strong desire to be taken seriously and treated as the woman that she is, forms an integral part of the storyline She desperately wants to live life to the fullest and craves the ability to function as a normal adult, but due to the fact that her physical form is so small and under developed, those around her tend to treat her like a child, and dismiss her very real, very-adult aspirations to live life normally.
3 Living An Adult Life Is A Huge Struggle For Her
It's not just Shauna Rae's emotions that are at risk as she struggles to be taken seriously in an adult world while being trapped in a child's body. Every aspect of her life has become challenging. She has gone to get her first tattoo and has gotten ready for a night on the town, hitting up the local bars and going to clubs and parties. Sadly, these experiences are often associated with huge moments of struggle, as those around her truly perceive her as being a child.
2 The Show Follows Shauna Rae's Dating Struggles
Due to the fact that she physically resembles a child, Shauna faces numerous challenges with her dating life, many of which are captured by the cameras for the audience to see. She admits that she typically attracts "creeps" and "idiots" and is consistently frustrated that she is not taken seriously as an adult woman in the dating game. Finding someone that can understand her condition is a difficult undertaking, and fans are taken along on the journey as Shauna gets a tattoo, expresses her desire to spark up her love life, and tries to immerse herself in all the activities and adventures one would expect of an average 22-year-old, with the added layer of complexity that she's viewed as being a child by those around her.
1 'I Am Shauna Rae' Premieres On January 11th, 2022
Shauna's mother appears on the show as well and expresses feelings of guilt as she watches her daughter struggle through the complexities that now surround her life. She wants Shauna to continue living with her so she can watch over her and protect her as much as she can. Shauna's personal struggles are also revealed as she clamors to live her adult life in the body of a young child. She's constantly denied entry to movies and bars, nightclubs and all the typical venues one would never assume a young child to be allowed into, since her physical appearance suggests she is a girl of that age. TLC captures the drama, the emotion, and the real-life struggles that Shauna faces, and fans can tune in to experience Shauna's incredible story during the premiere of the show, on January 11th, 2022.