MAFS star Jessika Power meets bullied nine-year-old Quaden Bayles at a close family friend’s funeral

Married At First Sight’s Jessika Power met bullied boy Quaden Bayles at a ‘close family friend’s funeral’ on Saturday. 

The reality star, 26, knelt next to Brisbane-based nine-year-old in a playground outside Nimbin Bowling Club in Northern New South Wales. 

She shared her admiration of how ‘full of life’ the young boy was, after a video of the bullying victim telling his mother he wanted to kill himself went viral. 

‘He’s so full of life’: Married At First Sight’s Jessika Power (right) met bullied boy Quaden Bayles (left) at a ‘close family friend’s funeral’ on Saturday

‘I got to meet this beautiful little nine-year-old boy at a very close family friend’s funeral today and all I can say is wow,’ Jessika wrote on Instagram.

She added: ‘He is so full of life and a happy little boy despite everything that has happened to him. 

‘All I had to say was ‘keep your head up, angel heart, you’re one in a million and an awesome little boy’.’  

'Keep your head up, angel heart': The influencer shared her admiration at how 'full of life' the young boy was, after a video of the bullying victim telling his mother he wanted to kill himself went viral

‘Keep your head up, angel heart’: The influencer shared her admiration at how ‘full of life’ the young boy was, after a video of the bullying victim telling his mother he wanted to kill himself went viral

What is  Achondroplasia? 

Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that prevents the changing of cartilage (particularly in the long bones of the arms and legs) to bone.

It is characterised by limited range of motion at the elbows, large head size (macrocephaly), small fingers, and normal intelligence. 

Achondroplasia can cause health complications such as interruption of breathing (apnea), obesity, recurrent ear infections and an exaggerated inward curve of the lumbar spine.

People with dwarfism have a normal life expectancy.

Source: US Department of Health

Earlier this month, Quaden’s mother, Yarraka Bayles, posted a video online showing her son crying and asking for ‘rope’ to kill himself.

‘This is the impact that bullying has on a nine-year-old kid that just wants to go to school, get an education and have fun,’ she said.

Speaking to indigenous Australian TV channel NITV in the wake of the viral footage, Quaden encouraged others to stand up for themselves when face-to-face with a bully.

‘If you get bullied, just stand up for yourself and don’t listen to what they say,’ he said.

He believed parents should educate their children about people with disabilities to prevent further bullying.

‘The parents should make their kids be nice to people with disabilities,’ he said.

Inspirational: 'I got to meet this beautiful little nine-year-old boy at a very close family friend’s funeral today and all I can say is wow,' Jessika wrote on Instagram

Inspirational: ‘I got to meet this beautiful little nine-year-old boy at a very close family friend’s funeral today and all I can say is wow,’ Jessika wrote on Instagram

Ms Bayles said her ‘strong’ son wants other people to know how he feels and no longer wants to ‘suffer in silence’.

‘It’s 2020 and bullying is at an all-time high and especially within our communities, people don’t understand that if you’re Indigenous, you’re already copping discrimination and racism,’ she said.

After the video went viral, an online fundraiser, ‘Let’s send a wonderful kid to Disneyland’, was soon set up by US comedian Brad Williams, who also has dwarfism.

Heartbreaking: Quaden's mother, Yarraka Bayles, posted a video online earlier this month showing her son crying and asking for 'rope' to kill himself

Heartbreaking: Quaden’s mother, Yarraka Bayles, posted a video online earlier this month showing her son crying and asking for ‘rope’ to kill himself

More than 20,000 donors from across the world flocked to give $723,000 (US $474,000) to give Quaden’s family the special treat. 

However Quaden’s family have declined the trip to Disneyland, pledging to donate the $700,000 raised for the youngster to charity.

On Thursday afternoon, his family stunned supporters by turning down the trip – saying they would rather the money be given to charity to help combat bullying and suicide. 

‘What kid wouldn’t want to go to Disneyland, especially if you have lived Quaden’s life,’ his aunt Mundanara told NITV News. 

‘But my sister said ‘you know what, let’s get back to the real issue’. This little fella has been bullied. How many suicides, black or white, in our society have happened due to bullying.

‘We want the money to go to community organisations that really need it. They know what the money should be spent on.

‘So as much as we want to go to Disneyland, I think our community would far off benefit from that.’     

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14 

'What kid wouldn't want to go to Disneyland?' Quaden Bayles' family have declined a trip to Disneyland, pledging to donate the $700,000 raised for the youngster to charity

‘What kid wouldn’t want to go to Disneyland?’ Quaden Bayles’ family have declined a trip to Disneyland, pledging to donate the $700,000 raised for the youngster to charity 

 

  

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