A brave Texas boy who wanted to make some new friends knocked on his neighbor’s front door on July 3, 2023. He would end up getting so much more than he bargained for. Shayden Walker, 11, asked Brennan Ray through his security camera if he knew of any kids in the area. Brennan took the time to get to know Shayden and his unique story.
Brennan was moved to post this sweet interaction on TikTok. The post quickly went viral and Shayden made many friends from all over the world. Brennan also created a GoFundMe for Shayden and his family to do with as they please. Perhaps the most important act Brennan did for Shayden was to become his friend himself.
Shayden has multiple diagnoses that sometimes makes it difficult for him to maintain friendships. These include autism, oppositional defiant disorder, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and more.
“That’s a lot of different diagnoses for one child,” mom Krishna Patterson told USA Today. “People need to be aware that these mental health issues can make children, even adults, feel completely isolated and feel alone.”
Brennan decided to help Shayden out and took to TikTok for support. "You never know what people are going through until you get a chance to talk to them,” he captioned his post. “This young man is well mannered, kind, and brave. So TikTok can we help Shayden make some friends?" TikTok came through in a big way with nearly 69 million views.
Brennan also raised $37,000 for Shayden via a GoFundMe page. “We actually had to close [the GoFundMe] down not even 30 hours after it was created,” he explained. “[His mom] didn't really want people spending their hard-earned money.”
Shayden has big plans for the money that was raised. He wants to donate to tornado relief groups, the war in Ukraine, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He also wants to go on a family vacation.
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Most of all, Shayden wants people to know they are not alone and can stop the cycle of bullying he has both experienced and been guilty of. They can reach out to him if they need to talk. “A lot of times, they have a lot of pain that they can't express,” Krishna explains. “They've been bullied themselves and the only outlet they have is to hurt other people. Shayden himself has been on both sides of this. He understands both sides of being so ridiculed that you feel like you have to lash out.”
Shayden now has lifelong friends in Brennan and his family. Brennan believes this story is a good reminder to always be kinder than necessary because you never know what someone is really going through.
