Like any little boy, Gavin Othmer was looking forward to his sixth birthday party. One look at Gavin's extroverted, boisterous personality and you would think he has an easy time making friends.
The thing is, Gavin has autism, and when other parents and students hear that, they tend to leave him out of things. When Gavin threw his birthday party, no one came besides one friend from school.
“He had one friend from school come to his party,” said his mother, Kandis Othmer. “He doesn't quite understand as to why no one comes to his parties.”
Yet Kandis, and Gavin's uncle Adam Purdy, know it's because people see him as different.
“Unfortunately he is treated differently in a lot of ways,” said Kandis. “A child is being left out. And unfortunately it's the special needs children that are left out of things.”
Purdy didn't want to see his nephew suffer. He wrote a note asking for people, anyone at all, to send Gavin a card or gift or just some well wishes. That's when local news KHQ6 got wind of the situation.
The news station, with the help of the Spokane Police Department, got together to throw Gavin a surprise party with gifts, cupcakes, and a some precious time with the police K-9 named Zeus.
For every person who wants to exclude you because you're different, there are about a dozen others who will embrace you for exactly that reason!
Please SHARE this touching act of kindness on Facebook to wish Gavin the best sixth birthday ever!
