It seems that one of the laws of the internet is that no matter what you post, someone out there is going to have something cruel to say about it.
Considering we rarely know who the people responsible for this behavior are, it’s usually hard to tell whether their toxic actions are borne from their insecurities or simply their twisted idea of humor.
But whatever the reason for it, the pain from those comments can add up in ways that are easy to underestimate when you put enough of them together.
And that’s why it’s particularly unconscionable when this cruelty is directed at a child, especially when that child is just innocently being themselves. Unfortunately, that’s exactly the situation that one family in Australia has been facing.
When Marianna Bowering’s daughter Angelica was born, it was clear that she had a vascular condition that causes a type of birthmark known as a port wine stain.
According to Today , this was a matter of some concern for Marianna and her husband because children born with this mark on their faces have greater risk for glaucoma and a developmental disorder called Sturge-Weber syndrome.
Fortunately, little Angelica was tested for both and has been determined to be a healthy child. Her parents also bring her to regular checkups to ensure no signs of these diseases start to manifest.
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But as for the birthmark itself, Marianna said she and her husband consider it “a unique addition to her beauty that should be celebrated.”
In her words, “I would never hide my little girl because of it, I think she is absolutely stunning.”
And while that’s a positive attitude in its own right, it’s also fortunate that this is how they feel because there wouldn’t be much they could do about the port wine stain if they felt differently.
As Dr. Gregory Levitin — who specializes in vascular conditions like Angelica’s — told Today, the most common treatment involves using a pulsed-dye laser several times to lighten the affected skin. However, this effect is usually temporary and the birthmark often returns over time.
But while Angelica is only three years old, she already receives a significant number of bullying comments when her mom posts a picture of her.
But if it seems that the solution is to stay off social media, it’s worth noting that Marianna has reported that these unkind reactions to Angelica happen in person too.
As she said, “In person, I think the most hurtful thing was when someone at a soccer game told me that she was a ‘defect.’ He just said that to me and then walked away. I was shocked.”
But despite the worrying signs that such comments suggest for Angelica’s future, Marianna is convinced that her daughter has the right kind of personality to overcome any future negativity.
As she put it, “It breaks my heart to think of anyone being mean to her. But I see her now, and she is such a confident little girl and she isn’t afraid of anything. I am sure she is going to get through anything life throws at her.”
h/t: Today
