In the 19th century, audiences gathered to see people with deformities; today, it’s simply unthinkable to do so. “Freak shows” were extremely popular from the 1840s until the 1940s, and exploitation for profit was not seen as ethically immoral.
Therefore, it’s possibly not all that surprising that Mary Ann Bevan’s story starts during this specific period in time. On December 20, 1874, in Plaistow, East London, the United Kingdom, Mary Ann Webster was born.
It was usual during this time for practically every working-class household to have hordes of kids. Being one of eight children—six of whom were brothers—Mary Ann Webster grew up in the same way as her siblings.
When her brothers reached adulthood, they were given jobs to support the family. Mary Ann, though, had other options. The stunning brunette graduated from medical school and started working as a nurse in 1894. She had a bright future ahead of her at this time in her life.
She was a lovely young lady with delicate features who resided in London and had a decent education. Economically successful, this city has evolved into the hub of the contemporary world.
When Mary Ann married Thomas Bevan in 1902, she also experienced love. The pair had four children during their marriage and was very content together. But sadly, the good days weren’t to endure forever. After spending 14 years together, Thomas suffered a stroke and died. Mary Ann was upset, and she was also left by herself with her four kids.
Unfortunately, she was also struggling with other issues. Just after she married Thomas, she began to experience some physical problems, and as the years went by, they only became worse.
Mary Ann began exhibiting acromegaly symptoms when she was about 32 years old. When the initial symptoms appeared, she must have been horrified, and unhappily, it wasn’t simple to find help for the uncommon condition.
Acromegaly was an unknown illness at the time, and doctors knew little about how to treat it. In the illness known as acromegaly, the body overproduces growth hormone, which causes expanded body tissue and bones. It’s a horrible condition that frequently causes the hands and feet of the individual who has it to grow to be three times their normal size.