Today, many people use social media to stay connected with others, often sharing photos of their children so friends and family can stay updated. One young mom, Natasha, also enjoys posting pictures of her son, Raedyn. However, the reactions to her posts are quite different from what most people experience.
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Natasha is a new mom navigating the challenges of motherhood. Like many others, she loves sharing moments of her one-year-old son on social media. Unfortunately, Natasha faces a lot of online bullying due to Raedyn’s appearance.
Natasha posts videos of herself and Raedyn on TikTok, but each video attracts numerous negative comments urging her to stop sharing. Despite this, Natasha remains resolute. She responds to her critics by saying, “I will not stop… just because he looks different doesn’t mean that he is any less – he is perfect.”
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Raedyn was born with Pfeiffer syndrome, which affects the shape of his skull, face, and limbs. While Natasha sees her son as perfect, she often receives hurtful comments and questions about his appearance. People ask, “What’s wrong with your child? Why does your child look like that?” Yet, Natasha continues to share Raedyn’s story proudly.
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Not only does Natasha face online negativity, but she also deals with insensitive remarks in public. Strangers often approach her with questions like, “What’s wrong with your child?” or “Why does your child look like that?” Natasha finds these interactions exhausting and points out, “That’s not how you talk to a human being.”
Public outings can be particularly challenging for Natasha due to the constant curiosity about her son’s condition. She says, “It’s exhausting to explain my son’s health problems over and over.” She is perplexed by people’s obsession with Raedyn’s appearance, emphasizing that he lives a life like any other child. “He looks different, absolutely – but that doesn’t make him any less.”
Natasha firmly believes Raedyn deserves a full life and acceptance. She states, “He deserves life, he deserves acceptance – I will fight until my dying day for that.” Natasha finds it frustrating when people express unsolicited concern while she’s simply going about her day.
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“What people need to understand is that I am just a mom, and my son is just a baby… our life doesn’t revolve around his diagnosis,” she says.
Natasha, feeling the strain of constant judgment, shares, “My son looks a little bit different, but that doesn’t mean he is just a lesson to give the world. It’s mentally and emotionally draining to explain my son’s health problems over and over to people.
“We are just a normal family. I pray for the world to accept disabled people one day and not judge them based on their appearance or the things they cannot do.”
It’s disheartening that even today, people are quick to judge those who are different. We can only hope for a kinder, more accepting world.
Sending love and support to Natasha and young Raedyn. Let’s join in wishing them well.
