Streamers With Rare Medical Conditions

Aeyvi frequently has to remind people that not all disabilities are visible to the eye. In 2020, some critics accused Aeyvi of faking her disabilities, which include POTS (or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), Chiari Malformation, and EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome).

It all started in 2018, when Aeyvi posted a short video to her YouTube channel depicting what some of her episodes look like. The combination of her disabilities can result in small strokes, mobility issues, and chronic pain, leaving her unable to stream or even  be fully comfortable in her daily life. Aeyvi continued showing bits of her life to her audience, openly talking about her disabilities and how they affected her life. In 2019, Aeyvi's in-game photography was spotlighted on the official "Elder Scrolls" website, gaining her even more fans.

After being introduced to Aeyvi's work, one Twitter user began accusing her of faking her disabilities. Aeyvi wrote about the experience on The Mighty, describing how she became increasingly irritated about the claims. She explained that she'd lived chronic illnesses since she was a teenager, and that in 2018 she "was mostly confined to one room and had to be cared for almost entirely." Aeyvi argued that she'd been attempting to combat judgmental attitudes online for years, and that ultimately the trolls would make her stronger.

Aeyvi continues to talk about her disabilities as she streams a variety of titles on her Twitch channel. She also works to try to educate others, partnering with charities like SpecialEffect, and provides support to others experiencing invisible disability. Hopefully her trolls learned a thing or two.

Mike Begum, who goes by Brolylegs on Twitch, was born with arthrogryposis, which affects the development of muscles and joints. Begum cannot walk or use his arms much, but that hasn't stopped him from becoming one of the best "Street Fighter" players in the world.

ESPN featured Begum in a profile back in 2019, interviewing the streamer and discussing his experiences in gaming. Begum told the news outlet about his tumultuous childhood, as well as how video games helped him bond with his father and brother. Eventually, Begum developed a method of playing games by using his face to manipulate the controller.

He practiced and became an expert at "Street Fighter," which — like many fighting games — requires a certain amount of dexterity and expert timing to master the daunting button combos. Because Begum cannot reach certain buttons, he became proficient in Chun-Li. As ESPN noted, Chun-Li's moveset doesn't explicitly require the use of those particular problem buttons, making her the perfect fit for Begum.

While he doesn't have a set streaming schedule on Twitch, Begum can typically be seen streaming favorites like the classic RPG "Earthbound" for his viewers.

Sweet Anita gained a massive following because of her dedication to streaming, but also because of her rare and sometimes surprising medical condition. 

According to a profile from Kotaku, which featured clips of an interview with Sweet Anita herself, the streamer has a rare type of Tourette Syndrome that includes coprolalia — quit literally, "poop talk." Those who experience coprolalia frequently have outbursts of profanity against their will, and while Tourette's isn't unheard of, coprolalia only affects about 10 percent of people with the condition. Anita has other tics as well, like whistling and making popping noises with her mouth, but her sudden streaks of curse words have actually surprised and delighted viewers, helping her grow her following.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that Anita also has a distinctive lilting voice with a British accent, or that she streams genuinely fun games and has a good rapport with her audience. Anita told Kotaku that she knows how she appears to viewers, saying, "​​I know it's silly to say — kitten — stupid things all the time. I know it seems really outlandish and strange ... It's fine to laugh, and I even laugh at myself. It'd be silly to expect everyone else not to." Anita has also told her followers directly that it's "absolutely okay" to laugh in response to her tics on stream.

In many ways, Sweet Anita is working to demystify Tourette Syndrome. Because her excessive profanity is part of a medical condition, Twitch hasn't banned her, and her fans hope that she continues to share her experiences for a long time to come.

Puppers, a Twitch and YouTube streamer, underwent a change before the eyes of his audience. Over time, viewers began to notice changes about the streamer — especially when it came to his voice (per Distractify). 

In November 2020, Puppers tweeted that he was tired of people commenting on how he talked. "My health is dropping and I have no idea why...," he said. "Just tired of it all." Not long after Puppers first began questioning the changes in his health, he let his fans know that he'd had a stroke and been diagnosed with ALS.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, affects neurons responsible for muscle movement, eventually making those affected unable to perform basic functions like eating or drinking. Although the condition is terminal, Puppers encourages others to have a positive outlook on life through his streams. Also, he's really great at "Dead By Daylight."

In addition to helping fans see their own lives more optimistically, Puppers has remarked to his Twitter followers that streaming has helped him to feel less alone, too.

NoHandsNZ is a whiz at "Apex Legends," regularly winning matches with a fantastic attitude. Oh, and he does it all without hands. Humphrey Hanley, who pokes fun at his condition with the nickname "NoHandsNZ," has dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. In an interview with HappyMag, Hanley said that he attempted to participate in sports and other conventional activities as a kid, but that got harder as he grew up. Despite this, he was still able to participate in the world and interact with others through his love of computers. Hanley explained that while technology has come a long way, consoles still have a ways to go. He did give a shoutout to Xbox's adaptive controller, saying he often uses it to play the console, and wished that PlayStation would create something similar.

When he's not playing video games or tinkering with computers, Hanley is an artist, using his keen eye for aesthetics to create gorgeous photographs and videos. He also sometimes works as a motivational speaker, telling his story and helping change the world of gaming.

Ironmouse is a VTuber with over a million subscribers on Twitch, and she frequently streams a variety of content, including karaoke sessions, "Minecraft" games, and honest reactions to previously recorded videos. The streamer also has a good reason for spending so much time online: she can't really go outside.

In May 2022, Ironmouse talked to streamer and psychiatrist Dr. K about her medical condition, Common Variable Immunodeficitieny (CVID), saying that she occasionally gets nervous talking about it because she wants to feel normal. She explained that her body doesn't create its own antibodies to battle illness, so she has to separate herself from others most of the time. Because she's extremely immunocompromised, she gets sick very easily, and she has developed other chronic conditions as a result of illnesses she's contracted.

"Growing up and becoming an adult, I noticed that a lot of people's experience was different to mine," Ironmouse said. She noted that she felt like it could be difficult to connect with others because she doesn't share many life experiences with others. Because of her different upbringing, Ironmouse said she felt different, and a bit embarrassed about her lack of certain experiences. However, VTubing has eliminated some of those challenges and feelings. She told Dr. K that when she streams through her avatar, her viewers aren't looking at her medical devices or appearance, and she felt they're ultimately more likely to focus on her personality and words.