As a 23-year-old woman who is, quite literally, trapped in the body of an eight-year-old girl, Shauna Rae did not know if she’d ever find a man to love her. However, the young woman has beat the odds and found a man interested in dating her despite how she looks like a child. Now, Shauna Rae Lesick, 23, has introduced her new love interest, 26-year-old Dan Swygart, to her mother and stepfather in a segment that aired on her reality television show I am Shauna Rae on the TLC network.

A truly incredible story of love and courage recently emerged from an unexpected source. A 23-year-old woman, trapped in the body of an 8-year-old girl, was brave enough to introduce her parents to a new love interest despite their fears that she would attract pedophiles due to her childlike appearance.

Shauna Rae suffered from a side effect of brain cancer treatment when she was an infant. The treatment caused her body to not develop as it normally would. Now, she stands at just three feet and ten inches tall and weighs only about fifty pounds. This means that Shauna Rae Lesick is the same size as a third-grade girl despite being an adult who is old enough to vote and drink alcoholic beverages.

Shauna Rae proved to all of us viewers that fear should never prevent us from pursuing true happiness and finding someone special to share it with. It takes tremendous strength and fortitude to go against the grain and stand up for what you believe in, as this young woman undoubtedly has. Whoever this love interest is, they are privileged to be part of such a powerful narrative of resilience and self-love.

Her new love interest is a British beau from Wales named Dan Swygart. He fell in love with Shauna Rae after watching the first season of her reality show. He reached out and sent her flowers and the pair started a romance that has resulted in him also appearing on the show alongside his stunted girlfriend.

“Dan and I met through social media, and we talked for a couple of months. He travels so often, so he doesn’t have service everywhere he goes,” Shauna Rae explained. “We kind of just got along, and we have a lot similar in our lives.”

Because Dan likes to go on adventures, and Shauna Rae “always wanted to travel,” his social media profile “piqued her interest.” Besides, she says that “he’s just a nice guy.”

After the pair met online, they planned a trip together. Dan traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to meet Shauna Rae in her hometown in Long Island, New York. They visited the aquarium together and did an escape room activity with Shuana Rae’s half-sister, eighteen-year-old Rylee.

“Rylee and I were both very anxious because we didn’t know what he wanted,” Shauna confessed. “He was also talking to both of us casually, so we didn’t know who he was into.”

Her mom and stepdad were ultimately supportive.

“Dan taking Shauna out of the country, I think it would be really cool. I think she’d have a good time,” her stepdad said.

“I’m not so sure about that,” her mother chimed in.

Shauna Rae is prepared to see Dan again.