Birthday Disappointment Turned Into Inspiration

Sometimes we forget that it’s not always easy being a kid. We remember that it was a time when we were fancy-free and didn’t know the meaning of the words mortgage, debt and responsibility. But, we forget sometimes, just like adults, kids can be cruel.

Don’t worry, this post isn’t all doom and gloom. Just the beginning.

This is the story of 9-year-old Gerald Hamilton. A young man, who had undergone 5 different skull expansion surgeries in his short life. Like any child his age, he simply wanted to celebrate his birthday with his classmates. Unfortunately, his simple birthday wish didn’t come true.

Of the 30 classmates that Gerald and his mother invited to the party, 12 responded saying they’d come. When the young man’s big day rolled around, he helped set up the party and waited for his friends to arrive. He waited an hour and then two and no one showed up.

Like we said, kids, like adults, can be cruel. But that’s not how the story ended.

Gerald’s loving grandmother turned to Facebook to simply share her perspective and frustration on the situation. She didn’t simply want to vent, she also wanted to find a way to make her grandson’s birthday a little better.

I’m going to vent right now. My grandson who is in second grade and has had at least 5 skull expansion surgeries, is slower then the other kids in his class. However, he is the kindest, most compassionate kid I know. His mother sent 30 invitations to his class. 12 said they were coming. At, 3 o’clock he made sure his goodie bags were ready for his friends, he was dressed and ready to party. At 5:00 p.m. he was still sitting there not wanting to cut his cake because one person might show up. When my daughter called the 12 parents to find out what was going on. Here is their response. My child can’t play with yours he is just to different. How sad he is 9 he just wants to have friends. So no one came, no cards, no presents. So, it is my mission to have as many cards as I can mailed to my little guy. You can send them to me and I’ll make sure he gets them….this breaks my heart.

Since Amelia originally wrote her post on April 4th she’s received an amazing outpouring of support for Gerald. Her post has been shared almost 4,500 times by Facebook users and, according to WISHTV.com, he’s received over 1,000 birthday cards from around the world. It’s not just cards he’s received though. According to the Huffington Post, he’s also been sent toys, event tickets and got to be players from the Chicago Eagles of the Champions Indoor Football League.

It’s stories like Gerald’s that help remind us all that, good or bad, a child’s birthday can have a lasting impact in a world that isn’t always as simple as we assume it is for them.