Mother Shares Heartbreaking Photo Of Autistic Son After No One Shows Up To His Birthday Party

Sep 19, 2018

Bullying can take an incredible toll on a young person's happiness, self-esteem and confidence. While bullying is difficult for just about any child to endure, it's especially hard for kids who have special needs.

Chris Ramirez knows about bullying all too well. At the tender age of 13, Chris has spent almost his entire life being bullied by his peers. In second grade, Chris was diagnosed with ADHD, as well as an autism diagnosis that lead to him becoming a target of his often vicious peers.

Throughout his schooling, Chris has had to endure taunts, name-calling and even the occasional physical attack.

“Bullying has left a mark on Chris’s soul," the teen's mother, Mary Ramirez, has said of her son. "[He worries] that others hate him and [he's] afraid to leave our house."

All throughout his childhood, Chris has grown accustomed to spending his birthday with his family, with nary a friend or fellow young person in attendance.

For her son's thirteenth birthday, Mary did everything she could to try to organize a party that would attract her son's classmates. But alas, no one showed up, leaving Chris absolutely heartbroken.

However, this year is going to be different. Frustrated and hurt by her son's predicament, Mary did some research online. Miraculously, she discovered the Cherab Foundation.

The Cherab Foundation is a unique nonprofit organization that has one goal: To give each and every child on the autism spectrum a special party, full of friends, fun, and joy.

Thankfully, the Cherab Foundation was willing to make Chris their next special birthday boy. For his fourteenth birthday, the organization will be throwing him a huge party and has opened up invitations to the public.

Tickets are free and hundreds of people have already RSVP'd. Chris might have had a lonely birthday party when he turned 13, but that definitely won't be the case as he turns 14.

"[Chris] needs to know that he is worthy of having friends and that he is not alone,” Mary said, greatly moved by the actions of the Cherab Foundation and her local community.

In addition to organizing his party, the Cherab Foundation has also handled the fundraising for the cost of the day's festivities.

Furthermore, it's set up an easy way for people who can't make it to the party to send cards showing Chris how much they care about him.

For a kid like Chris, something as simple as a birthday card or a guest at his party can be life-changing.

However, our society still has a lot of work to do when it comes to solving bullying once and for all.

Thankfully, more and more celebrities and public figures are raising awareness about this problem. Rapper Macklemore has called bullying a "national epidemic."

Actress Shay Mitchell has gone on record reminding her young fans that "bullying never has to do with you. It's the bully who's insecure." Even superstar Taylor Swift has gone on record against bullying, bravely opening up about her own experiences being bullied in school.

Hopefully, bullies like the ones who targeted Chris will finally wake up and get the message that their behavior is not okay.

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Share this with your family and friends to remind them how awful the effects of bullying can be on a child.