TAP top app download banner
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
theAsianparent Singapore Logo
Product Guide
Sign in
  • Together Against RSV
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • Events
  • Holiday Hub
  • Aptamil
    • Immunity
    • Intelligence
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • VIP

The tragic story behind viral Facebook photo of hugging twins

15 Sep, 2016
The tragic story behind viral Facebook photo of hugging twins

“It's the first time they have ever touched and as soon as Mason felt Hawk he reached out for his arm and smiled this big.”

The moment their photo went online on Facebook, it took the Internet by storm. The photo shows 11-day-old twin brothers Mason and Hawk, with Mason’s arm draped around his sick brother.

“It’s the first time they have ever touched and as soon as Mason felt Hawk he reached out for his arm and smiled this big,” the accompanying caption says.

It’s such an intimate moment between siblings that the people on the internet couldn’t help but take notice.

Thus far it has received 91 thousand likes, four thousand comments, and 29 thousand shares.

At first glance it looks like an innocent enough photo, but there’s more to the story, and it’s heartbreaking.

“The twins were born Aug. 18, and doctors soon learned Hawk had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia,” said a TODAY Parents report. “He underwent several surgeries to fix the condition, which left him with a hole in his diaphragm that allowed his organs to shift inside his body.”

Sadly, Hawk succumbed to his condition six days after the viral photo was uploaded on Facebook.

In a follow up post, his parents Tommy and Brandy announced their son’s passing.

They wrote:

“Our hearts are saddened this morning as our sweet little man was called home to be with Jesus. He went very peacefully and we know he’s no longer suffering. Please give us some time to grieve and try to start the healing process.”

The post accrued an overwhelming response of support and condolence for the family.

Learn more about What is congenital diaphragmatic hernia on the next page!

What is congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)?

According to Boston Children Hospital, CDH is a hole in the diaphragm (the muscle under the lungs that is responsible for breathing) that allows organs from the abdomen to move into the chest.

It affects about one in every 2,500 babies, and can usually be diagnosed during a routine ultrasound or shortly after birth when a baby is having trouble breathing.

The outlook for babies born with CDH is increasingly positive with new surgical techniques and ways to support babies as they heal. However, it’s possible that your baby can have long-term problems and need regular follow-up care after going home from the hospital.

Partner Stories
Comfort, Care, and Confidence for New Mums  with PEM Confinement Nannies
Comfort, Care, and Confidence for New Mums with PEM Confinement Nannies
Relax & Recover with PNSG Postnatal Massage
Relax & Recover with PNSG Postnatal Massage
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
Celebrity Dad Mark Lee Shares the 3 P's of Raising School Going Children - Parenting Tips, PSLE Preparation & Protecting Your Child’s Eyesight!
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being
NTUC First Campus (NFC) Expands Child Support Model to Include Support for Mental Well-being

Although CDH’s outlook for babies born with it is increasingly positive, it’s possible that the baby can have long-term problems and need regular follow-up care after going home from the hospital.

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below or check out theAsianparent Community for more insightful parenting news and tips . 

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Nasreen Majid

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • The tragic story behind viral Facebook photo of hugging twins
Share:
  • Chagee opens sign-language store at NUS supporting deaf community

    Chagee opens sign-language store at NUS supporting deaf community

  • MOH launches helpline and textline for 24/7 mental health support

    MOH launches helpline and textline for 24/7 mental health support

  • Bankruptcy Over Hospital Bills: What the NUH Case Teaches Us About Medical Financial Help

    Bankruptcy Over Hospital Bills: What the NUH Case Teaches Us About Medical Financial Help

  • Chagee opens sign-language store at NUS supporting deaf community

    Chagee opens sign-language store at NUS supporting deaf community

  • MOH launches helpline and textline for 24/7 mental health support

    MOH launches helpline and textline for 24/7 mental health support

  • Bankruptcy Over Hospital Bills: What the NUH Case Teaches Us About Medical Financial Help

    Bankruptcy Over Hospital Bills: What the NUH Case Teaches Us About Medical Financial Help

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
  • Family Occasions
  • Lifestyle
  • Normal Delivery
  • Ages & Stages
  • Trying To Conceive
  • News
  • TAP Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
© Copyright theAsianparent 2025. All rights reserved
About Us|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it