Braden Garnett

Mom Calls Cops When No One Decided To Show Up on Her Son's Birthday Party

Every year, there is one day that all children await aside from Christmas. It is considered one of the best days of the year - Their birthdays. 

But for this 5th grader, Braden Garnett from Pekin Illinois, it was just another day of loneliness and disappointment.

Braden was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, dyslexia, and a condition that causes the misalignment of his eyes. As a result, he was often bullied in school.

Pekin police with their kids and Braden.

Fellow children bully him constantly, calling him names. Telling him he's a cross-eyed freak and was not good at dodgeball.

For Braden, regular school days were tough — but when his birthday rolled around, it got even worse. “There have been many parties when only two kids showed up,” Braden’s mother, Carrie Garnett, revealed. “Other years, no one.”

Carrie knew the failed parties were devastating to her son— and sadly, it looked another year would be the same.

Pekin Police department

Carrie sent out 36 birthday invitations, only two people had responded and said yes. That’s when the concerned mom decided to step in. Fearing seeing her son be heartbroken again, Carrie put in a little request to her local police department.

Carrie contacted the Pekin Police Department, asking if an officer would be willing to surprise Braden at his paintball party. “I want him to have what all the other kids had. I want him to have all the good friendships and to not struggle,” Carrie said.

Detective Mike Eeten was the person who received Carrie’s e-mail. When he heard about Braden’s situation, he knew he had to help. “That’s a difficult thing to have to say to your child, why nobody showed up to their birthday party,” Eeten said.

Police officers brought their kids along to celebrate Braden’s birthday.

Eeten spread the word about Braden’s birthday to the rest of the department.

When the day of the party finally came, Braden was overjoyed to be greeted by dozens of officers, firefighters, and even the mayor— all there to help celebrate his special day.

The officers came with gifts for the birthday boy even tagged their own kids with them, and one K9 officer even brought his dog to play with the kids.

Braden’s paintball party.

Carrie was so delighted and happy for the kindness of Pekin Police department.

The Pekins Police uploaded a video of the party to Facebook, where it ultimately went viral. Carrie said, “Now that all the kids and staff at the school have seen the videos of it, they are giving him some positive attention that he is handling wonderfully.”

Great job to the Perkins police department for going above and beyond the call of duty. 

“There is no wrong way to perform an act of kindness.”

-      Catherine Ryan Hyde