People Call Mom a 'Monster' – Her Little Daughter 'Doesn't Notice' Her Differences at All

Lauren Behanna from West Virginia can barely move on her own. She has spent her life in a wheelchair and often faces criticism from online trolls. Nonetheless, she keeps her head held high and doesn't let the opinions of others affect her.

Lauren Behanna, a resident of West Virginia, recently attracted much attention from online trolls. The 27-year-old has lived her entire life with a rare disorder that left her wheelchair-bound and barely able to move without her medication.

The disease is found in exceptionally few cases and has had numerous effects on Lauren's everyday life. The most notable has been her inability to move around without her wheelchair, but it has also affected her physical appearance, so much so that online trolls have taken to criticizing her.

Lauren has commented on her illness, saying she is virtually a "rag doll," and she struggles significantly with motor function and muscle control. Nonetheless, she keeps getting up every day and has taken to sharing her story on social media in the hopes of inspiring and educating others about her condition.

Lauren Is a Mother Living a Full Life

Despite having an illness that would certainly debilitate many, Lauren has decided to remain positive. She suffers from congenital myasthenic syndrome, a disease that significantly inhibits communication between muscles and the nerve cells that send signals to them.

Despite her upbeat approach to the social media platform, there has been a slew of negative comments from various people on TikTok.

Like others with the same disease, Lauren's symptoms appeared when she was just a baby. She describes the illness as similar to multiple sclerosis but her severe muscle weakness started in her first few years of life. Because of her disease, she spent much of her childhood in the hospital.

One of Lauren's earliest symptoms was difficulty breathing, which meant she had to be under medical care frequently. As she grew older, doctors put her on medication that helped with her muscle weakness but had no permanent effect on her condition, and she needs the medication to function every day. She revealed:

"I have to teach myself how to walk again each and every day. When I wake up, I can't get out of bed and I have to wait at least 30 minutes before I can get up. It sucks, as every day is different, but I'm so used to it now."

Lauren also noted that the genetic condition has given her an "elongated face," which may seem startling to many when they first see her. She has noticed many people staring at her whenever she goes out in public, but she doesn't let it phase her. Instead, she is vocal about her condition and proud of who she is.

Luckily, Lauren didn't get bullied for her condition growing up, and she has built up plenty of courage and confidence to live life to the fullest extent. Doctors told her parents she wouldn't make it to two years, and considering how low her odds were, Lauren is just glad to be alive.

That's not to say she doesn't have her bad days. Lauren admitted she had to learn to adequately express her emotions and not keep them bottled up. She often wondered, "Why me?" when things get difficult, but she always tries to see the good side of life.

Although doctors didn't think she'd make it past her first birthday, Lauren is now happily married and raising her seven-year-old- daughter, Abby, with her beloved husband, Cody. Lauren often shares pictures of her with her family, and she remarked that Abby treats her like any other child treats their mom.

It's clear from all the photos that the family adores each other. The mother-of-one is proud of her brood and has also taken to educating others about her condition on social media. Lauren isn't afraid to talk about her disease and enjoys entertaining people, although her social media presence hasn't been without backlash.

Trending on TikTok

Lauren has developed a fondness for making others smile. A while ago, the mom started a TikTok account, not expecting anything to happen and just hoping to have a few laughs. She opened up about her experience on the app, saying she enjoys spreading a few smiles and seeing the positive impact she's having:

"I'm a pretty down-to-earth woman, who loves to make people smile. I've accepted the fact I'm different and I love being able to show others it's okay to be different. It's what makes us all unique."

Despite her upbeat approach to the social media platform, there has been a slew of negative comments from various people on TikTok. In response to a viral video she posted that received more than 13.5 million views, a bunch of people reacted negatively, insulting Lauren's appearance by likening her to numerous characters from TV shows and films.

Many viewers remarked rudely that Lauren looks like the twins from the "How to Train Your Dragon" franchise, while some even compared her to Fuchi, a "monster" from an anime. Some referred to her as Eddie Munson from the show "Stranger Things." But despite these comments, Lauren wants to keep making TikToks.

However, not all of the feedback has been negative. Lauren has built up a considerable following of people who enjoy what she does, and many have taken to social media to compliment her. One person wrote, "You are beautiful xxx." Another person penned, "There's nothing more beautiful than a mother." One noted:

"You are a beautiful lady you have a good husband and a beautiful daughter , your eyes are beautiful you don't need me to tell you that, .. [People] who comment on people are just low life 's .. nothing better to do with their lives (sic)."

In general, people have been highly supportive of Lauren over the years, and she has welcomed the friendly responses. Lauren revealed that she is often noticed when she goes out, and she welcomes anyone who enjoys her videos to stop by and say hello.

Want more like this? Click here to read about a new mother whose son was judged by people on the internet.