A woman in Nashville, Tennessee, often labeled a real-life “vampire,” shared what it’s like to live with a sun allergy in a viral clip. To protect her skin, she has to cover it completely, and she even showed a custom car that protects her from UV light.
The woman in question is Emily Richardson. She said she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and experiences severe reactions to sun exposure. Her content revolves around living with her condition, and the clip in question went viral. It garnered 1.6 million views, 162,500 likes, and more than 1,600 comments.
The Tennessee woman started her clip by calling herself a vampire. Then, she provided some context for her condition, saying, “Since 30 seconds of sun exposure will put me in the hospital, I cannot have any UV ray exposure at all.”
As she explained this while narrating the clip, she was shown covering her face with her UV-protective gear. Additionally, Emily explained that her car is even customized to meet her disability needs.
Custom UV-Protective Car
The car has a UV hood, which can make it hard to see while driving, especially since Emily wears sunglasses. Thankfully, her car comes equipped with the solution: sensors placed all around it, and even a backup camera to prevent her from exposing her face to the sun.
However, the most important part of her vehicle is the UV tinting. She explained that Shadow Jumpers, a non-profit, paid for the tinting, knowing fully well of her condition, turning an “unbearable” experience into a much more pleasant one.
Still, Emily has to wear her UV protective gear because the tinting “is not 100%.” However, after she rolled down her window, a UV meter showed that it did make a substantial difference regardless.
After asking her followers for donations to keep paying for her car, the video ended.
Internet Reacts to Tennessee Woman’s Video
The video sparked multiple responses.
Some users were legitimately curious about her disorder and how it impacts her daily activities. One user asked, “What happens if you get pulled over?” The Tennessee woman answered, “I don’t know yet.”
Others, seeing how she called herself a vampire, decided to have some fun. One asked, “How do you feel about garlic?” Emily answered with a photo of her eating garlic bread. Other viewers commented for reach, asking others about their favorite color and their battery percentage.
Emily has lived with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome for more than 16 years, enduring multiple hospitalizations along the way. Her viral video offers a rare, personal look at what daily life with her condition truly demands.
