The most dramatic. Season. EVER!!! If you’ve ever watched “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette,” you’ve probably heard this refrain from the show’s host, talking up the ridiculous antics that keep our eyes glued on the television each week. While Zach Shallcross’ season has been marked by some drama (what Brooklyn told Christina is still echoing through my head on the daily), Zach has actually done a great job in mitigating drama and focusing on love. On Zach’s season, we’ve seen people dive deeper into the events and experiences that have shaped their lives. Zach, during a conversation with 23-year-old Jess Girdo, even shared that he had been diagnosed with a rare condition called pyloric stenosis when he was born.

As reported first by Distractify and MSN, Zach opened up to Jess after their second group date. He shared that his mother was told that the condition would most likely be fatal and Zach wouldn’t survive. However, his mother never gave up, pursuing all of the treatment and care possible for her son. Not only has he survived, but he has clearly thrived. When speaking with Jess, Zach even noticed that surviving pyloric stenosis gives him a sense of purpose, as though he survived for a reason. He also shared that, prior to the conversation, he had never really spoken in depth about his experience.

We thank Zach for being so open now about his diagnosis – and wish him only the best in finding love. You can always have our rose, Zach! If you’d like to keep up on Zach’s journey, make sure to check out new episodes of The Bachelor every Monday at 8pm ET/7pm CT on ABC.

What is Pyloric Stenosis?

Pyloric stenosis is a rare condition in which food is blocked or prevented from entering into the small intestine. As explained by the Mayo Clinic:

Typically, a muscular valve [called the pylorus valve] between the stomach and small intestine holds food in the stomach until it is ready for the next stage in the digestive process. In pyloric stenosis, the pylorus muscles thicken and become abnormally large, blocking food from reaching the small intestine.

Pyloric stenosis is more common in Caucasian infants than infants of other races. It is also more common in males than females. While symptoms most commonly appear between 2-8 weeks following birth, they may manifest any time from birth to six months of age. Symptoms can include:

• Forceful and progressively worsening vomiting
• Dehydration
• Changes in bowel movements, such as lower frequency, mucous-filled bowel movements, or constipation
• Intense hunger despite vomiting
• Lethargy
• Weight loss or problems gaining weight