Amidst the many stories shared on social media, there is one that stands out. The story of little Eline Leonie, born with neonatal progeria - a very rare and fatal disease.

Eline Leonie: The abuse of her moving story on Facebook
Eline Leonie: The abuse of her moving story on Facebook

Her story, titled "Today is my birthday, I know I'm ugly but no one has ever blessed me ☹️!" ” shared on Facebook is being misused and has triggered an avalanche of reactions.

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Screenshot: Facebook

It is unfortunate to see that some users on Facebook simply use such heartbreaking stories as a means to generate engagement in the form of likes, comments and shares. They seem to have little interest in the real story behind these images, their only goal is to increase their reach. But we at Mimikama have checked the facts and uncovered the real, moving story behind this viral post.

The true story and incredible journey of Eline Leonie

Eline Leonie, a tiny bundle measuring 1200 grams and 38 centimeters tall, came into a world full of challenges. Diagnosed with neonatal progeria, she faced a rocky road ahead. But thanks to the loving care of her mother Michelle Claudine, she was able to gain 600 grams in the first 15 months of her life.

The picture shared on Facebook came from Eline Leonie's Instagram page

Despite the frightening prognosis, Eline exceeded expectations and fought through a year and three months of her life. She clung to her mother's love and lived every moment to the fullest.

Neonatal Progeria: The Silent Enemy

Neonatal progeria is a particularly rare and aggressive form of progeria that begins before birth and causes rapid aging. Eline showed symptoms of the disease at birth and suffered from digestive, muscle and heart problems. She required special care and was fed through a tube as she did not have the strength to drink breast milk.

Mother's Instinct: Michelle Claudine's Tireless Fight

Michelle sensed early in her pregnancy that something was wrong. She was smaller than other expectant mothers at the same week of pregnancy and insisted on an ultrasound even though doctors suggested amniocentesis. Her persistence paid off when the ultrasound confirmed that Eline had not grown and her heart was unstable. Michelle gave birth to Eline via emergency cesarean section on November 14, 2019.

Spotlight: The Real Story Behind the Facebook Posts

The sad truth: Eline Leonie has been no longer with us since 2021 and users are still commenting “Happy Birthday”

Eline Leonie's tragic story was exploited on social media to generate interactions. The real, moving story behind these posts has often been overlooked. Eline died in her mother's arms on March 7, 2021 . Her short but meaningful journey was documented by her mother on Instagram, where she gained an impressive number of nearly a million followers.

It is deeply sad and alarming to learn that users on Facebook are still sending “Happy Birthday” to little Eline Leonie, unaware of the tragic fact that she is no longer with us.

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Eline Leonie lost her courageous battle against progeria on March 7, 2021, as her mother announced on her Instagram channel (see picture). It is heartbreaking to see how this heartbreaking story is misunderstood and misused on social media. We hope this education will help raise awareness of the true story behind these posts and treat the memory of Eline Leonie with the respect and love it deserves.

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Conclusion: humanity behind the clicks

It is both tragic and amazing how little Eline Leonie's life touched millions of people around the world. Her story touched us and reminded us how precious and fragile life is. She showed us that every second counts and that even in the face of the greatest challenges, love and compassion can prevail.

However, it is deeply unfortunate that these moving stories are often exploited to gain reach on social media. Real lives, real destinies are trivially exploited for clicks, likes and shares. It's important to remember that behind every viral post is a real story, a real person with real feelings.

The shamelessness with which such stories are misused by some users for their own purposes is not only morally reprehensible, but also disrespectful to those affected. Every time an image of a sick child is shared without context or consent from the family, the child is reduced to their illness and stripped of their dignity. Instead of respecting and honoring its history, it becomes a mere means to garner likes.

This is an absolute no-go because there is a lack of respect for the individual fate and privacy of those affected. The line between compassion and exploitation is crossed. Every time we come across posts like this, we should ask ourselves: Would we want our own story used in this way?

Let us treat Eline Leonie's story and the stories of all children struggling with serious illnesses with respect and compassion. They are more than just viral messages. They are brave fighters, beloved children, whose lives and stories deserve to be treated with respect and respect. Let’s never forget: every click, every like, every comment on social media impacts real lives.

It is our responsibility to use these tools with respect and be aware of the human story behind every viral post. And last but not least, we should recognize and appreciate the beauty and value of every single life, no matter how short. Because as Eline Leonie showed us, even the shortest life can leave a lasting impression.

Also read: Misuse of children's photos online - an overview


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )