I'm 24 and my 85-year-old husband is older than my GRANDFATHER - but we're looking into IVF so that he can be a dad for the first time
A married couple with a 61-year age gap have vowed to start
a family - despite the 85-year-old husband being a decade older than his wife's
grandfather.
Miracle Pogue, 24, from Starkville, Mississippi, met husband
Charles Pogue, 85, when she was working in a launderette in 2019 and the pair
quickly formed a friendship.
Despite the 61-year age gap, the pair are looking into IVF
in the hope of starting a family to ensure Charles, who doesn't have any
children, leaves behind a new generation.
Retired real estate agent Charles finally decided to admit
his feelings for the nurse a year after they met and he proposed in February
2020.
Miracle says her mother Tamika Phillips, 45, and grandad Joe
Brown, 72, were supportive of the relationship from the start after seeing how
happy the pensioner made her but her dad Kareem Phillips, 47, was harder to
convince.
Miracle said: 'Charles used to bring in one item of clothing
and only wanted me to serve him.
'One day he waltzed in there and threw a piece of paper down
and said "write down your number" like he's a player. He was my
knight in shining armour.
'We had a good vibe going, he didn't make me feel weird. It
was good conversation, he made me feel comfortable. I knew he was older but I
didn't know his age exactly.
'When I found out I was in too deep, it was a couple of
months in and I already had feelings for him. He was my baby and he wasn't
going anywhere.
'I found out in conversation when we asked each other our
date of birth and he said he was born in 1937.
'I never even placed his age, we just wanted to see how it
went.
'I don't care if he's 100 or 55, I like him for him. I
thought he was maybe 60 or 70 because he looks so good. He's always up and
active.
'My grandad said if I was happy and it's what I want to do
then he's happy. My dad was like "hell no ma'am, not at all".
'It took a lot of time to convince him but I asked him if he
wanted to lose his daughter forever.
'If he didn't come to my wedding, he would have lost me
forever.
'I told him I needed his support and to walk me down the
aisle. Once he got to meet Charles and talk to him, he loved him.'
Charles said: 'Miracle has got a lot going for her. She's
got her life in order, she's great.
'The wedding day was wonderful, it was the best day of my
life. There's no problem with the age difference.
'People making comments online doesn't make a difference, we
just let them do their thing. We're very happy together. We're looking forward to
starting a family together.'
The couple married in July last year and Miracle describes
the day as 'the best day' of her life.
Despite the age difference, Miracle says she's desperate to
start a family with Charles and hopes to have two children despite knowing she
is likely outlive him.
Miracle said: 'I want him to have another generation. We're
looking to go to an IVF clinic to talk about our options.
'We went to an IVF clinic before but we really felt the
pre-judgment even though they don't know me and it was quite overwhelming.
'Now I'm forgetting it as long as they give me my baby.
Maybe Charles's age will stop us from having children but I have an open mind.
It may not work.
'I worry about Charles. At Thanksgiving he got Covid and I
broke down. I prepared myself, but the way he gets up and goes every day, he's
not going anywhere.
'We prepare for things and he says he might not be here in
five years. I tell him he will and he'll outlive us all.
'I know realistically I'll be around longer than him so I
try to live and have fun and experience as much as I can with him. We try to
live it up.'
Miracle claims her relationship has attracted a lot of
negative attention online, with the couple often mistaken for father and
daughter.
Miracle said: 'One time we were going to Florida on
vacation.
'We were renting a car and the lady said "oh is this
your dad" and I said "yes this is my dad, hey papa, daddy". I'm
a goofy person so I won't get mad.
'In public I don't even care, I don't think of it as being
weird I just go about my day. People on the internet make me feel weird.
'I get backlash from people who don't know me or love me,
they just call it as they see it. I posted my man online and it blew further
than I could even imagine.
'People were saying I'm using Charles, he doesn't know
what's going on and saying I should be ashamed.
'Of course, people mention finances but I'm a nurse. I was
starting medical school when I met him.
'I will be well off with or without Charles, it's a choice
to be with him and it makes me feel good that he chooses me.
'It's so crazy that people come after me, as he's the older
one. He's with me of his own free will, he chose me. I've learned it's OK for
people to say how they feel, it's a free country.
'I have a lot of followers who are pro me and Charles.
People say we look so good. People share their stories about their older men
and say I make them feel comfortable in their skin.'
Commenters on TikTok debated whether Miracle is the age she
claims, with one asking for evidence that she is 24.
One commenter wrote: '24? No way. I've got to see proof and
if you're 24 I'll never try to guess ages again.' Another said: '42 she meant.'
Miracle hit back insisting that she was born in 1998 and
claims she may look older because she doesn't dress 'all out'.
Loved-up Miracle says she's attracted to Charles's laid-back
nature but admits the age difference is stark when it comes to technology.
Miracle said: 'I love his advice, I know I can go to Charles
and ask him anything. I trust he's not going to leave me in the dark, he'll
make sure I'm OK.
'He's peaceful, he's so laidback, he doesn't want to argue.
I love to hear his stories.
'I love to joke with him about technology. I will take a
photo of a cheque and deposit it into my bank account. Charles doesn't even
have a bank card.
'It's so weird how he operates but I like how he takes it
easy.
'It's a blessing to have someone you can talk to and confide
in. I know our relationship looks weird and people think "what's going on
here?" but I know he got me and I got him.'