When Elizabeth Tyler posted a short Instagram video with her 6-year-old son Liam, she never expected it to go viral. But almost a million views later, the clip is still spreading smiles—and shining a light on something both beautiful and rare.
Elizabeth, 40, and her son Liam were born with heterochromia, a genetic condition that affects about 6 in every 10,000 people in the U.S. It gives them striking, multicolored eyes—so unique that many can’t look away.
In the now-viral video (shared on @elizabethevan), the mother-son duo explain their specific form of the condition: sectoral heterochromia—also known as partial heterochromia. It causes a “slice” or “wedge” of different color in the iris. Sometimes it’s a sliver, other times it takes up nearly two-thirds of the eye. And it can appear in one eye, or both.
“I shared the video because I want Liam and other kids to know that what makes them different is what makes them shine,” said Elizabeth in an interview.
“Growing up with it myself, I didn’t always feel that way. Now I want to make sure my son grows up feeling proud of who he is—and confident in his uniqueness, inside and out.”
But not everyone sees it that way.
When Elizabeth gently asked Liam if he’s had a good experience with his unique eyes at school, his answer crushed her:
Some kids had called him a “monster.” Others said he “looked crazy.”
“No parent ever wants to hear their child say something like that,” Elizabeth said.
“But it also hit me on a personal level because I’ve been there. I remember being called names growing up and feeling different in a way that didn’t always feel safe or celebrated. So when Liam said those words, it resonated deeply. I knew exactly what that sting felt like.”
The trait runs deep in their family—Elizabeth’s father and three of her siblings also have heterochromia. So in her home, it was always normal.
“Liam was around two years old when he started pointing to his eye,” she recalled. “By then, I had already been talking to him about heterochromia, so when he noticed it, he felt proud.”
And while school can be tough sometimes, social media has offered an outpouring of love. The post, shared on June 6, has racked up over 77,000 likes and thousands of supportive comments from users around the world.
“Not only is he unique—he is BEAUTIFUL,” one commenter gushed.
Another chimed in with a smile: “Honestly, I’m jealous… unless it hurts.”
“You’re both gorgeous and have the most beautiful eyes!!!!” a third added.
For Elizabeth, it’s all about turning pain into pride—for Liam and for others who feel like they stand out in ways they’re not always sure how to embrace.
“Different isn’t bad,” she says. “It’s something to celebrate.”
