An activity that began as a way to pass the time during the pandemic has evolved into a community that an Omaha mother and daughter did not anticipate.

A seven-year-old named Preslee Harris and her mother, Thais Diehm, have been sharing daily TikTok videos for several years.

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“My friends, they often check their mom’s phone while she’s browsing TikTok, and occasionally they come across my TikToks,” Harris stated.

In the past year, the pair’s concentration and audience engagement on social media have changed.

In May 2024, Harris received a diagnosis of idiopathic juvenile scoliosis — indicating that the reason for her scoliosis remains unidentified.

She was still in kindergarten, to be honest. I was taking her for her first-grade physical the following year, and they began with the scoliosis screening, which involves them standing straight and then bending forward to touch their toes, while the doctor checks for any hump on their back,” Diehm explained. “And the doctor noticed something and referred us for imaging.

Harris has no physical limitations, so Diehm mentioned she always takes the opportunity to play soccer or attempt a new trick on the trampoline.

“She can put her brace on and off. I mean, there are children who need surgery immediately and have to wear their braces all the time. So, you know, she’s lucky because hers isn’t as serious,” Diehm said.

Diehm mentioned that her daughter is required to wear the back brace for 16 hours each day, without exception. The device is designed to slow the progression or assist in correcting the curvature in Harris’ spine.

“Her final appointment in April, she was 21 while wearing a brace, which is positive because when they put her in a brace, she was 27, so you can see the progress,” Diehm said.

Although Harris is aware that the brace is beneficial, she mentioned that some days are more challenging than others.

“I still have days where I don’t want to wear it because I wish I could be like the other people who don’t have scoliosis,” Harris said.

Sharing that vulnerability, as Diehm mentioned, is what halted people’s doomscrolling and captured the attention of millions.

“Seeing, you know, a 6-year-old having trouble with the brace and needing to wear it, and just like, the looks and whispers and the questions—that really was what kind of pushed that forward and started it,” Diehm said.

Soon, the followers, likes, and comments started pouring in. Numerous people shared their own experiences with scoliosis or simply provided words of support for Harris.

“We don’t know anyone in our actual life who has scoliosis, so it’s really great that she connects with people online who also have scoliosis,” Diehm said.

“Typically, I only notice people without braces, but when I see someone who actually has them, I feel somewhat happy and want to wear my brace more,” Harris said.

Motivated by a fan, this summer, Diehm wrote their daily affirmations on the front straps of Harris’ brace. Each morning, as she fastens the straps, Harris repeats the affirmations: “I am strong. I am confident. I am strong.”

We actually began sharing daily affirmations on our TikTok a long time ago,” Diehm said. “And those were some of our popular videos where we did daily affirmations together. So when she got her brace, I thought this was a really great idea. And we already do that regularly. Why don’t we just write on her straps?

Currently, the pair has almost 390,000 followers and millions of likes on TikTok, building and expanding a community that Diehm mentioned they hadn’t anticipated.

“The huge amount of support and genuine people coming in, supporting her, asking questions, wanting to be her friend online and ensure she was happy, even though they didn’t know her, was truly very touching,” Diehm said.

It’s also creating an impact throughout the process, in a digital manner.

Perhaps a month ago, this mother contacted me,” Diehm said. “She sent me a message on TikTok, and she mentioned that her daughter, who was probably 9 years old, was extremely frightened about wearing her brace to school, but she watched several videos of Presley and me that helped prepare her for the day, and she ended up wearing it that same day. Watching our videos gave her the bravery and self-assurance to wear it to school, and I found that really impressive. That’s essentially what it’s all about. You know, inspiring and encouraging other children and letting them know they’re not alone, that we’re just like them.

Harris and Diehm are also making an effort to contribute to their local community.

In June, Diehm mentioned that they collected almost $3,000 via an online campaign. The funds were used to buy “Higgy Bears,” which are stuffed animals designed with back braces, in order to give them to children suffering from scoliosis.

We’re planning to give them to the Hanger Clinic, where she receives treatment,” Diehm stated. “After that, we’ll also donate them to the children’s hospital.

Informing individuals with scoliosis that they are not alone is the main focus of the pair’s TikTok content.

“Just want to tell people wearing a back brace to stay strong,” Harris said.

If you’re interested in tracking Harris’ experience with scoliosis, you can follow them on TikTok at @thaisdiehm.

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The post Omaha Family’s Scoliosis Journey Inspires Thousands on TikTok appeared first on FondTimes.