Rising Stars: Meet Stacey Brown of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Brown.

Hi Stacey, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a poet and MRKH advocate. MRKH is a congenital syndrome affecting 1 in 5,000 women, where you’re born without a uterus and a underdeveloped vaginal canal. In May 2021, I launched Wombless and Worthy, using poetry to redefine what it means to be a woman. The world tells you this is what a woman’s body is supposed to do and how a woman’s body is supposed to do it. My goal is to use poetry to inspire and share a message that reminds others who are a part of the MRKH and infertility community that they still have a purpose and their body still has a purpose.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, not at all. I was diagnosed with MRKH at 25. I know I know I should have been diagnosed earlier, but there is a special type of grief that comes with not being properly taken care of as a child. In addition to MRKH, I have a disability where my arms can’t fully extend, so I had other medical problems. It has been a struggle to accept my body and its limitations. Before being diagnosed with MRKH, I was slowly starting to feel comfortable and confident. This diagnosis reminded me that self-love is finally getting it right, then having to start over again.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a writer and a poet. For a while, I was waiting until other people validated my gifts. I’ve learned that the God giving me the gift is all the validation that I needed. I write about all sorts of things. My best poems come to me in the shower or when I’m trying to sleep. While living in Athens, I was given the push I needed to start to perform. I was so nervous about sharing what felt like my deepest, darkest feelings on stage. It takes courage to get up on a stage and say I was born without a uterus. I am in the process of writing a poetry book. I’ve been writing for years, so right now I am just archiving them. My goal is to continue to perform and share my story as a black women with MRKH. Black women have been forced to stay silent simply because we were told: “What happens in this house, stays in this house.” We deserve safe spaces, we deserve support, and we deserve to be seen.

What makes you happy?
My fur baby, Lexington Alexander Brown! He is my ESA, my everything. Having a cat has shown me that this is my version of motherhood and this is more than enough. They say grief is love with no place to go, but I’m grateful that I opened up my heart to love again. He has taught me that the love I desire doesn’t have to be earned.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womblessandworthy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womblessandworthy
• Other: https://substack.com/@womblessandworthy