Disabled Chinese mother hits back after suffering ‘hurtful’ online abuse that she is ‘unfit’ to be parent
- Woman and daughter, 5, live happy rural life, child helps with farm chores
- They film ‘hands replacing legs’ life videos, have 23,000 followers on Douyin
A loving disabled mother in China who walks on her hands has been subjected to a barrage of offensive and hurtful verbal attacks online, questioning her suitability as a parent.
The 31-year-old, who identifies herself as Haiyan on Douyin, lives in the suburb of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province in southeastern China, and regularly shares her rural life on the platform where she has 23,000 followers, reported The Paper.
Her videos are mostly about her interactions with her five-year-old daughter who often helps with household or farm chores.
In March, Haiyan was criticised and abused online, with many internet users leaving hurtful messages, such as one that read: “A person like you are unfit to have a child”.
Another online observer wrote: “Look at how you look. How dare you give birth to a child? Do you want your child to share your burdens?”
“Have you considered your child’s interest? Her life will be very tough. It’s unfair for her to have you as her mother. You are so selfish,” said a third person.
Others doubted the authenticity of the videos, speculating they were set up by a marketing team to attract online traffic for live-streaming sales.
Haiyan said the videos were a genuine record of her life that were filmed by her daughter or relatives who occasionally visited her home.
“Those people posting online violence do not know me well. Their comments have hurt me. But what I ought to do is to adjust my own mindset,” she said.
“I live positively and well. I cherish every day I live because who knows what accident will happen tomorrow.”
Haiyan was not born disabled. Her condition was caused by polio contracted at eight months old when she became seriously unwell and was bedridden for five years.
She has been living her “hands replacing legs” life for more than two decades.
Her marriage status is not clear, and she never mentions her daughter’s father in her videos.
“Some people say I am selfish and I am harming my child. You do not see the other side of me, striving to live well. You do not know how much hardship I have endured,” Haiyan said.
“My daughter is the hope of my life. She is the only reason I continue to live. My life is full of regrets, but her arrival has completely changed it.
“Although I am not like everybody else, I am able to take care of and educate my kid well,” she said.
Haiyan’s story has melted hearts on mainland social media.
“Salute this strong mother. I am sure your life will become better and better,” one person said online.
“You are a great mother and a strong beauty,” said another.
