Mom's TikTok Goes Viral After School Misses Daughter's Rare Condition

A Michigan mother's viral TikTok post has drawn attention to potential oversights in school health screenings. Presley John shared her experience after receiving a call from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding her daughter Everly's hearing test results. Everly, an eight-year-old, has microtia, a congenital condition characterized by underdeveloped ears. She has Grade 1 microtia on her left ear and Grade 3 on her right, resulting in approximately 50 percent hearing loss on one side. This condition was not unknown to the family, as Everly's aunt also has microtia. Since eight months old, Everly has used a bone-anchored hearing aid. The screening call caught John by surprise, as Everly's condition is well-documented. She politely informed the school that Everly was already under audiology and ENT care. John found humor in the situation and created a TikTok video to share her experience, which quickly garnered over 500,000 views. Her video resonated with many parents who have faced similar situations where their children's disabilities were missed during screenings. The post also highlighted broader concerns about under-resourced and overworked education and public health systems, suggesting that such strains can cause children to fall through the cracks. John hopes her family's story will spread awareness that disabilities do not define individuals and should not limit them.