Friendly neighbors transformed a 12-year-old bullied boy’s life when he knocked at their door in search of new friends.
Shayden Walker became an internet sensation after a heartwarming video showed him approaching a neighbor’s house in Amarillo, Texas, to inquire if there were any children his age residing there.
Brennan Ray, the homeowner who shared the footage from his doorbell camera on TikTok, greeted Shayden with an enthusiastic “What’s up, man?”
In a shy and subdued manner, Shayden expressed his longing for friendship, uttering, “I was wanting to see if you knew any kids around 11 or 12 maybe cause I need some friends real bad,” as he cast his gaze downwards.
Ray pointed Shayden towards a nearby residence where a few children lived, but Shayden disclosed that they were no longer his friends due to their bullying behavior.
When Ray revealed that he had a 2-year-old son, Shayden’s face instantly lit up. “That’s great. I actually … I love 2-year-olds, to be honest. They’re just the most cutest things I’ve ever known,” he remarked, reminiscing about his own past experiences with a 2-year-old sister.
Shayden introduced himself to Ray, who assured him that he would say hello whenever they crossed paths.
Although the Ray family didn’t have any children Shayden’s age, they decided to share the heart-wrenching video on TikTok.
The post went viral and amassed an astonishing 69 million views and nearly 11 million likes.
They also setup a GoFundMe campaign to benefit the boy, which has raised approximately $40,000 to date.
Shayden had been grappling with loneliness and enduring relentless bullying from other children due to suffering from ADHD, ODD, and being on the autism spectrum.
His mother, Krishna Patterson, revealed that he had been hospitalized as a result of the severe emotional distress caused by the incessant torment.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Shayden opened up about the manipulation he faced from his former “friends,” stating, “When they ask me to do something horrible, I don’t feel like they’re actually my friend.”
His family disclosed that Shayden lacked the confidence to be his true self prior to his newfound popularity.
“He flaps his arms and makes noises that a lot of people have made fun of him, so he told me, ‘I just deal with the pain of holding it in so I don’t get made fun of because of it,’ and that hurt, that broke my heart,” his mother told KFDA.
Now that Shayden’s self-worth has soared, and he shared an important message for others: “How would you like it if someone were to bully you? How would that make you feel?”
Due to surpassing all expectations, the GoFundMe campaign has since been deactivated, but the funds they raised will be put to good use.
Shayden’s family intends to utilize the money to purchase a gaming system, new clothes, and tickets to an amusement park.
“It just takes one person, especially if you’re a popular kid, people look up to you, if you can be the one to stand out and help somebody else, set that trend, make that the trend to be set to not be a bully,” said Ray said about the encounter.
Ray took Shayden to Soled Out: Barber Shop this week, where they gave him a fresh cut and let him pick out any pair of sneakers that he wanted at the store.
