My son a few weeks ago come out of a much less risky operation and I didn’t send anyone a photo, not his grandparents, his dad (he came later but no photos), no one, he was in pain and really agitated from the anaesthetic it hurt my heart, my only instinct was to lay in the hospital bed with him and hold my baby until he felt better. I didn’t want a single other person to see him like that for both his sake and theirs. There’s just no need, all he wanted was cuddles and comfort much the same as Oakley, he doesn’t need being on the gram he just needs love.
it’s not raising awareness, a photo of him very vulnerable and in pain isn’t needed to raise awareness, if she really wanted to raise awareness she could have just given a brief description that retained his privacy but provided a view of what children with aperts contend with.
I have never felt more strongly about child exploitation than after seeing Oakleys story. A child is not a possession and it’s not “your” story to tell it’s Oakleys, feelings as a parent yes and basic details but not Oakleys privacy constantly violated and used to obtain attention, no, that beautiful boy deserves more.