Introduction: Yarraka Bayles, a mother from Brisbane, shared a heart-wrenching video on Facebook of her 9-year-old son, Quaden, in tears after being bullied at school. Quaden, born with achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, faced relentless teasing about his height from classmates.
Incident and Mother’s Reaction: Bayles recounted the distressing incident, sharing, “I witnessed bullying…schoolgirls were ‘stroking his head like a dog’ and mocking his height. My heart was bleeding.” She took action, removing Quaden from school and considering homeschooling.
Impact on Quaden: Quaden, displaying strength despite his pain, had previously attempted suicide at the age of six. His mother explained, “He’s very strong and is trying not to show how hard it is for him.”
Viral Video and Support: The video swiftly went viral, amassing over 6 million views and 140,000 reposts. The global community, including Australian celebrities like Latrell Mitchell, rallied behind Quaden. Mitchell, an Aboriginal Australian, offered him the chance to open a rugby match.
Global Outpouring of Support: Samoan-New Zealand actress Teuila Blakely shared a photo of Mitchell and Quaden on Instagram, while the rugby team recorded a supportive video. The family received overwhelming support and encouragement from people worldwide.
