She was only a few hours old when her parents decided they didn’t want her. The reason?

The Harsh Reality of Albinism

Albinism is a rare genetic condition that reduces melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes. Beyond its physical appearance, it often comes with severe challenges—extreme sensitivity to sunlight, impaired vision, and in many cultures, unbearable stigma.

In parts of Africa, children with albinism are hunted for their bones, believed by cruel myths to hold magical healing powers. In other societies, they are seen as cursed, shunned by communities, or hidden away by families ashamed of their “unusual” children.

Xueli herself later reflected with startling clarity:

“I’m lucky I was only abandoned.”

Her words carry the weight of truth. For countless others, the cost of looking different has been far greater.

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