Rhianna Benson
A devastated mum has shattered the hearts of many after revealing she didn't receive a single present for Christmas.
Last year, TikToker Mary had been working for months to ensure her loved ones enjoyed their happiest festive season so far.
But she was left utterly heartbroken after having no gift under the tree to open when the big day rolled around last year, despite having endured an emotionally turbulent year.
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Having lost both her mother and her unborn baby back in 2022, Mary hoped that either her husband or children would remember to buy a gift for her.
But she was left bitterly disappointed.
Taking to the video-sharing social media app to express her disappointment, Mary wrote: "I know I'm not the only mom who woke up Christmas morning with not a single present under the tree for them as you watched your kids and husband unwrap the presents you spent all month stressing over."
She also explained in follow up videos that she'd bought and wrapped the presents for her husband and two kids after a tough two years.
Mary had contracted the coronavirus, which subsequently led to the death of her baby.
She was admitted to hospital just before Christmas 2021 and put on a ventilator just two weeks later, after which she lost her little one.
"When I woke up, it was already January," Mary told followers. "I missed all of the holidays. My kids had not seen me for two months. And everyone knows that moms make the magic happen most of the time."
Mary explained that she decided to spoil her kids this Christmas to 'make up for the fact that [she] was not there for them last Christmas'.
But the doting mother was left 'upset' after coming to the realisation that not even her husband had made an effort to get her a present after all they had been through.
TikTok users rallied around Mary in the comments, with many sharing their own experiences of being left without presents and others arguing that Mary deserved better.
"Thank you for this post. I felt less alone in the world," one viewer wrote, while another commented: "This happened to me. It wasn’t that I didn’t get a gift, it’s that no one even noticed I didn’t have a gift."
A third added: "Moms deserve appreciation too. You deserved a gift. All mothers do."
Mary has thanked those who responded to her video with kind messages, and showed her support in return to those going through similar situations over the festive period.