Despite being told she wouldn’t live to see her first birthday, Melinda Bird has defied doctors with her zest for life.

Melinda, 40, was born with a rare condition, sacral agenesis, which caused her spine to stop growing at the bottom of her rib cage – leaving her lower body compressed.

Although doctors predicted, at best, she’d never sit-up or talk, Melinda has never let her disability hold her back.

Amazingly, she enjoys quad biking, boating, shooting and surfing in her spare time.

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The only thing lacking in her life is romance. Melinda – who has been single for over 20 years – has never been kissed and longs to find Mr Right and settle down.

Melinda says: “My condition means my top half is normal even though my bottom half stopped growing. But I’ve never let my disability get in the way of enjoying life.

I love being active and have a great group of friends. The one thing missing in my life is a boyfriend. I’d like to find somebody and fall in love.

“I’ve been on a few dates, but we always end up just being friends. It’s hard to find men at my age because a lot of people are married.

“I also think I’m judged for my disability. People assume they’ll have to look after me, they don’t realise how independent I am.

“I’m physically capable of having a baby but my biological clock is ticking and I’d like to start a family sooner rather than later. I’d love to adopt if I don’t have children of my own.

"But I’m not giving up on love – I know the right man is out there.”

Read more of Melinda's inspiring story in Closer mag, out today