Thanks to the rise of social media, we’re all bombarded with images of seemingly perfect-looking people; it seems as though the world has become even more shallow in how people are judged.
For those of us that don’t fit the stereotypical “perfect” mold, the world can seem very cruel, with complete strangers feeling it necessary to criticize someone based on their appearance on social media.
Karine de Souza knows this more than anyone. The Brazilian has spent her life covering her skin in SPF100 sunscreens – even when she’s inside her home – due to her rare skin condition.
The 33-year-old was diagnosed with Xeroderma Pigmentosum when she was three years old which means she is at high risk of skin cancer.
Her ”one-in-a-million” condition, which is incurable, means she is highly sensitive to UV rays as she lacks the ability to repair any damage the sun causes to her skin.
Just a few minutes in the sun can mean incredibly painful sunburn for her. Growing up, she was often isolated from the outside world because it was too dangerous for her to spend too much time outside her house.
“When I expose myself to the sun it doesn’t happen in the moment, I don’t feel anything. However, in the future, the lesions appear and need to be removed because of cancer,” she said.
Karine has had to endure 130 surgical procedures to remove lesions caused by the sun, including the removal of her lower lip and part of her nose.
Sadly, it is not only a physical battle she has to endure. Karine often gets stared at in the street and has been the victim of verbal abuse both within her community and online.
But despite her suffering, she remains upbeat and happy and has even found love.
She met her husband Edmilson through social media, who fell in love with her “story and her strength.” Edmilson has always stood by Karine’s side, and he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
He also decided to embrace Karine’s three children from her previous relationship, which of course, meant a lot to Karine.
”He came and he showed me that I could live a true love story”, she says.
But after posting photos of them together online, Karine was once again exposed to a whole host of offensive comments.
”We have already read many offensive comments calling me a monster, deformed, a zombie,” Karine said.
Other comments suggested that their relationship wasn’t genuine and that Karine was a ”sugar mommy,” and that she must be very rich.
”Because of the fact he’s a young man and pretty, that caught people’s attention and they didn’t believe that he was with me because he really liked me,” Karine said.
A photographer who captured the couple after they got engaged posted a selection of the images online and wrote:
”In a world where appearance matters more than the feeling, they met not by chance, but by a gathering of souls, an encounter of acceptance and character and love emerged when their souls met and today you are the inspiration to so many people who do not believe in themselves, in life and especially in love.
“THANK YOU every day for being who you are. STOP complaining for being like you are. HUG LIFE, and accept yourself. Much gratitude for teaching me so much. You guys are AMAZING. You are the missing hope in so many people. Thank you for the big hug, and for the wonderful day we experienced together. I carry your smile with me forever.”
His heartfelt words and beautiful images he captured of Karine and Edmilson went viral, and thousands of people commented, congratulating the couple.
Karine wants others to realize the importance of being positive.
”Be happy, smile, because life happens only once,” she said.
In 2023, Karine and Edmílson welcomed a baby girl into the world, and they couldn’t be happier! Their daughter, Zaia, was long awaited – Karine and her husband had been trying for a baby since 2020.
Karine has been through so much but thanks to her positive attitude she has found the happiness she deserves.
Her story is inspirational so help us inspire others in similar situations by sharing this story with your friends and family.
Young people make fun of a poor old lady on the bus until the voice of a homeless man interrupts them
There are some stories that captivate your attention… We cordially encourage you to read one more moving story.Mary, an elderly woman, finds it challenging to ascend the bus’s steps due to her weakened physical condition.Just when she was about to give up, she felt a solid hand catch her elbow and hold her up.However, her smile swiftly changed to shame when she turned to thank him.Timothy, a tall, thin man with an untidy appearance and appearance of homelessness, was the owner of the hand.Mary instinctively withdrew her arm and gave a stiff “thank you.”Timothy merely grinned pitifully.Rejection was nothing new to him; it was just part of who he was.
Mary’s occupation of two bus seats made him think of his own mother, who would have been embarrassed to see him in such a manner.Timothy took a seat by himself near the back of the bus.Closing his eyes, Timothy leaned back and considered his daughter Daisy.He kept thinking about how she continued to cling to him even after everything in their lives had crumbled.His wife Valery had been diagnosed with stage four cancer two years prior.Timothy was devastated when Valery passed away despite having spent all of her money on medical care.
Following Valery’s passing, Timothy’s world collapsed.Due to his frequent absences to take care of her, he lost his work, and in order to pay off the obligations, they had to sell their property.He moved into a ramshackle one-bedroom flat in a crumbling building with Daisy.Daisy’s circumstances were deemed inadequate by child welfare workers, who promptly took her away.Timothy’s only comfort now that he was homeless was a bus ticket to see his daughter at her house.
The loud, teasing voice of a teenager startled Timothy out of his reverie.”Driver, have a look at this!The boy pointed at Mary and mumbled, visibly inebriated, “This lady should pay for TWO tickets.”His friend interrupted, making fun of her for occupying two seats.With trembling hands, Mary gripped her handbag while the other passengers turned away, refusing to assist her.Mary was told to get out of her seat by the first teen, who gave her a punch to the chest.Mary calmly remarked, “Young man, there are plenty of other free seats,” despite her trepidation. The second teen, though, was not content.Approaching her with an alcoholic breath, he demanded that Mary vacate her seat.
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