Strength in Adversity

The remarkable story of Mary Ann Bevan, a mother who overcame adversity.

- Renuka Krishnaraja

Among all human relationships, the bond between a mother and child is perhaps the most sacred one. We've all heard endless tales of a mother's unselfishness, sacrifice, and perseverance. As the world celebrates Mother's Day on May 12th, let's reminisce about the story of Mary Ann Bevan, an English nurse and a mother of four, whose life's story is like none other. Born in 1874 in East London, Mary Ann had a tough yet regular childhood. She eventually trained to become a nurse and got married. Shortly thereafter, she had four children and life was usual. But destiny, probably had other plans for her. She was affected by a hormonal condition called acromegaly which caused bone and facial disfigurement. Unfortunately, there was no proper treatment for that precise ailment back then.