Fred and Alice’s wedding was moments away when Fred’s mother, Valerie, recognized Alice’s father, Felix, as a past one-night stand. Shocked, Valerie stopped the wedding, revealing that Fred and Alice could be half-siblings. Fred was furious and devastated, unsure how to proceed.
Valerie explained that years ago, during a breakup with Fred’s father, Walter, she had a brief fling with Felix. She feared Fred wasn’t Walter’s biological son. When Alice overheard, she collapsed in shock and insisted on canceling the wedding.
A DNA test later confirmed that Fred was indeed Walter’s son. Relieved, Fred and Alice eloped in Las Vegas, leaving the drama behind.
After their intimate Vegas wedding, Fred and Alice returned home, relieved to have left the chaos behind. They began their married life with a sense of newfound peace, thankful the DNA test had cleared up any doubts about their relationship. The couple hosted a small celebration with close family and friends to mark their union, but it was a far cry from the grand wedding they had originally planned.
Fred’s mother, Valerie, apologized again for the confusion, but Fred and Alice reassured her that everything worked out for the best. They spent the next few months adjusting to married life, grateful for the close bond with both families and the fresh start they had been given.
The drama of their disrupted wedding faded into the background, and they focused on building a future together, cherishing the new chapter that began in Vegas.
After their Vegas wedding, life settled into a comfortable rhythm for Fred and Alice, but family drama wasn’t completely behind them. A few months later, tensions arose between Valerie and Alice’s parents, Felix and Melinda. Valerie couldn’t quite shake the awkwardness of her past connection with Felix, and occasional awkward comments at family gatherings sparked discomfort.
Meanwhile, Alice’s mother, Melinda, started feeling uneasy about Valerie’s past with Felix, even though it was years ago. This led to subtle jabs and passive-aggressive remarks during family events, making holiday gatherings tense. Fred and Alice often found themselves playing peacemakers, trying to smooth over the lingering awkwardness.
On top of that, Walter—Fred’s father—began to feel somewhat sidelined after the DNA drama. Even though he’d been a dedicated father, he sometimes sensed that Felix’s presence in Fred’s life cast a shadow over their father-son bond. This led to moments of tension between Walter and Fred, as Walter grappled with lingering insecurities.
Despite the occasional family drama, Fred and Alice remained united, working through each issue as it came. They focused on creating their own family traditions, establishing healthy boundaries, and ensuring that the past didn’t overshadow their future.
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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