Boy, 6, Overcomes Bullying, Heart Condition To Spread Kindness

PLAINFIELD, IL — At just 6 years old, Ayden Cazares is a fighter. The pint-sized hero has overcome a congenital heart defect, battling back after heart surgery in August, and is taking a stand against bullies.

Ayden's mom, Nelly Sainez, said bullies began targeting him last year when he was a kindergartner at Ridge Elementary School in Plainfield — pushing him off a slide, biting him and even pulling his pants down. Now a first-grader, Ayden is turning that negative experience into a positive by helping other kids who are facing bullies.

Last year, Ayden and his mom launched a Facebook page, Ayden's Fulfilling Your Birthday Wish. Through the page, Ayden has been sending birthday surprises to kids around the country and posting video messages of support — especially for kids who have been bullied.

The effort to spread kindness began last year when Ayden and his parents were cleaning out his closet. Ayden's dad asked him if he was willing to give away some of his toys to kids in need — and the Plainfield student jumped at the chance.

"We found a single mom with two boys with autism and gave away toys and clothes," Nelly said. "It just went from there," with Ayden even "adopting" a family for Christmas and posting frequent uplifting videos.

"He just loves making the videos," Sainez said.

Just last week, Ayden reached out to a boy from his neighborhood — also named Aiden — after his friends didn't make it to his birthday party.

Little Ayden shared a message of support, adding, "It's cool that we have the same name. I will be your friend."

In honor of Bullying Prevention Month, Ayden also issued a challenge, asking other kids to do something kind. "Be nice to someone and do something for them," Ayden said. "Share your details with me about it on my page."

Ayden's acts of kindness haven't gone unnoticed. In August — just after the 6-year-old underwent heart surgery — New York-based See the Wish announced that Ayden as the newest recipient of its Be-A-Friend program, which highlights children making a difference.

See the Wish profiled Ayden online, noting that the 6-year-old "endured months of physical bullying while battling a hidden heart defect... and what did he do about it? Ayden started an anti-bullying Facebook page with his mom to fulfill kids' birthday wishes because, he tells CBS News 2 Reporter, Dana Kozlov, 'I want them to feel happy. If they don’t feel happy, I don’t feel happy.'"

Kids around the country are writing Ayden letters of support, and according to See the Wish, they're pouring in from all over. As of Tuesday, 1,000 letters had been received.

The letters are due this week, and Sainez said Ayden will receive them as part of a big surprise at the end of October.

Sainez said she's also hoping to get the attention of another local hero to make a wish of Ayden's come true. For his birthday on Nov. 14, she said Ayden is hoping to meet the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber. Ayden even posted a video comforting Schwarber after the Cubs' season ended Oct. 2 with a loss to the Rockies.

A GoFundMe was created to help Ayden's family with costs associated with his Aug. 23 heart surgery. As of Tuesday, the campaign had raised $3,720 towards a $4,000 goal.

Photos of Ayden courtesy of Nelly Sainez and used with permission