This week, heartwrenching footage of a little boy driven to the brink of suicide from relentless bullying went viral, thus shattering the hearts of millions of people all over the world.
The 9-year-old, who suffers from dwarfism, has been viciously bullied all his life, which has eventually pushed him to breaking point.
There has been an outpour of love and support for the youngster, from members of the public and celebrities alike. And now, a comedian who also has dwarfism has done something incredible for the boy and his family...
Keep scrolling for the full story.
School is a really formative time in your life.
The curriculum can often seem a little random and there is a general consensus amongst students each and every year that fractions and analyzing old poems will not get you anywhere in life. That being said, everything that you learn during your school career shapes the adult that you become.Not fitting in can make the challenge of school all the more difficult.
Forget the lessons, the homework, the presentations, the miniature dioramas... the most challenging part about school is making friends and fitting in.Having a support network is the best way to survive school.
Knowing that someone has your back makes walking through those school gates just that little bit more do-able. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that having good friends can actually make school kind of okay.But there are many reasons why kids pick on other kids.
It's cruel as, often, children are left fearing coming to school and will do anything to avoid social interactions just because they don't want to be singled out.
Learning difficulties don't only affect your learning...
It seems bizarre that having a disability can cause people to be intentionally cruel to you, but, in the throws of youth, kids don't end to stop and think about what they are doing and will be mean to anyone that they deem vulnerable.If you don't look the same or talk the same...
If you move to the area from a different country, if your skin color is different, if you have an accent, if your hair isn't like everyone else's... that's it. You're excluded. Any cultural differences that set you apart can mean that you are separated from the rest. It's not always like this, but these differences can make fitting in more difficult.And recently, one mother has taken a stand against bullies.
via: Facebook
Yarraka Bayles, from Brisbane, Australia, recently posted a video where she showed the aftermath of a bullying incident that took place at her son's school.She shared the post warning other people against the dangers of bullying.
via: Facebook
In the six-minute clip, you can see Quaden, her 9-year-old son who has dwarfism, crying and talking about his school experiences, saying he's considered "the dumbest kid in class."At one point, he even tells his mother that he wants to kill himself.
In the distressing video he says: "Give me a rope, I want to kill myself" and 'I just want to stab myself in the heart... I want someone to kill me."
Apparently, other children have been calling him "midget" and tapping his head and pointing out his differences.
His heartbroken mom says this:
"We try to be as strong as positive as possible and only share the highlights... but this is how bullying affects a nine-year-old kid."
She continues:
"I just picked my son up from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal and I want people to know this is the effect bullying has. This is what bullying does. So can you please educate your children, your families, your friends because all it takes is one more instance... and you wonder why kids are killing themselves."
She also pleaded for help as her voice quivered.
"So is there any advice or support or anything that other parents have done? I've got some good advice but I need more, I want people to know how much it is hurting us as a family."
She mentioned that this isn't the first time Quaden has talked about suicide.
His distraught mom recalled that the first time he tried to kill himself was when he was only 6-years-old.
Children should not be thinking about such a scary concept at such a young age.
She tried to explain to him that his life is valuable.
"I was so shocked. I honestly didn't think he would even know what or how at six years old. I've explained to him that once you go, there's no coming back, you're gone forever, but he still kept trying."
Quaden has been through many life-changing events.
He was deeply affected by the death of his grandfather and his little brother, who was stillborn. His mother revealed that he thinks he would be better off with them in heaven.
This heartbreaking story has really raised some important questions.
The video has since been viewed over eighteen million times, and the surge of support has been overwhelming for the family.
However, this does not take away Quaden's pain.
via: Facebook
His mother is out for answers. As she continues being an activist for these kinds of issues, she plans on raising more awareness for other people, especially children who have dwarfism.The response to her post has been huge.
And many celebrities and sports stars alike have been amongst those offering their support.The Indigenous All Stars NRL team reached out to the family...
via: Facebook
And incredibly, invited Quaden to walk them onto the pitch at their game this Saturday.And that isn't all.
via: Getty
Comedian, Brad Williams, who suffers from dwarfism himself, got wind of the heartbreaking story and decided to do something about it.The issue is very close to home for Brad...
via: Getty
And, clearly moved by Quaden's anguish, the comedian decided to set up a Go Fund Me page for the youngster.He wants to give Quaden an unforgettable experience...
via: Getty
It's the least he deserves. Writing on the Go Fund Me page, Williams explained: "I'm setting up this GoFundMe to let Quaden know that bullying will not be tolerated and that he is a wonderful human being who deserves joy."He wants to send him to Disney Land.
via: Getty
"I want to fly Quaden and his mother to America, get them a nice hotel, and bring them to Disneyland... Let's show Quaden and others that there is good in the world and they are worthy of it."He wants to organize the full experience for Quaden and his mom.
via: Getty
"Funds raised will be spent on two airplane tickets for Quaden and his mother from Australia to Los Angeles. As well as providing a hotel, food, and tickets to Disneyland Park in Anaheim for multiple days."As for any excess funds?
via: Getty
They will be donated directly to anti-bullying and anti-abuse charities.And his kind gesture isn't only for Quaden...
via: Getty
It is standing as a reminder to all other children who are different that there is good in the world. "This isn't just for Quaden, this is for anyone who has been bullied in their lives and told they weren't good enough."The petition has surpassed its original goal of $10,000...
via: GoFundMe
And is close to reaching a staggering $100,000. At the time of writing, the number stands at $194, 986 from over 8,000 donors.You can watch the video of Quaden here...
This is the hardest video I’ve watched. A 9 year old boy wanting to kill himself due to bullying at school. What is… https://t.co/b99OkU52ye— Rob Shehadie (@Rob Shehadie)1582151912.0