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Community Throws Birthday Party For Boy After Classmates Said They Wouldn't Come

SPOKANE, Wash. (CBS Local) -- A 12-year-old boy in Washington got the surprise of a lifetime when nearly 100 people showed up to his first-ever birthday party. It was a surprise -- because most of his new classmates declined to attend.

The boy and his mother had just recently moved into an apartment after living in shelters for years around Spokane to escape a dangerous domestic violence situation.

The boy, whose mother requested to keep their identities private, enrolled in a new school. In late September, he invited all of his classmates to celebrate his birthday with him.

But when most of them declined, his mother took to Facebook to share how heartbroken he was.

The mom of our birthday boy gave me permission to share her words and this beautiful photo from Born2Fly Photography: ...

Posted by Mike Ellis on Monday, October 29, 2018

It wasn't long until Mike Ellis and his wife saw the post and decided they wanted to help.

"I said, 'Hey, Hon, what do you think about putting on a birthday party for this special boy?'" Ellis told KREM. "And she said, 'Let's do it.'"

Ellis told Yahoo Lifestyle he had met the boy's mom on World Homeless Day two years ago. She had told him her story of escaping domestic violence and finding her way to the streets and shelters of Spokane with her two boys.

Ellis decided to organize a party for the birthday boy and invited his family and friends on Facebook to join them.

We know a special boy. He has been in a new school for a couple of weeks. He invited classmates to his birthday party...

Posted by Mike Ellis on Saturday, September 29, 2018

A month later, Ellis said the boy was surprised when he walked in the Prohibition Gastropub, and his mother immediately started crying.

"He didn't think that adults would come today," Ellis said. "He didn't think that kids would come today. So when he walked through the front door and saw a hundred, a hundred and fifty people, you could see it in his eyes, his excitement."

Facebook message from the Mom of our birthday boy: "35 birthday cards.. 250 dollars cash..15 gift cards..presents...

Posted by Mike Ellis on Sunday, October 28, 2018

Being at the party was just as much a gift for those who attended as it was for the boy.

"I've cried several times today, and it's because of seeing love and generosity from complete strangers," Ellis said.

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