Dwarfism bullies won’t silence Brisbane mum’s education campaign

YARRAKA Bayles is used to her son Quaden being stared at. But even she was stunned by a stranger’s vile comment after she posted a video of him online. SEE THE VIDEO

IT was an innocent video showing a four-year-old pulling faces at a mirror.

But when Yarraka Bayles posted the clip to her Facebook page of her son Quaden - who has achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism - she was stunned when a stranger posted the unthinkable - ‘sh*t that’s one ugly kid’.

“There were about 10 (negative) comments, but it’s not the first time,” Yarraka said.

“I’m so proud of him and his achievements and his milestones that I can’t contain myself so I choose to share it.”

Her first encounter with online trolls was a year ago when she started posting videos for Dwarfism Awareness Month last October.

“It was the first upload and we got ‘what an ugly kid’, ‘look at that little midget’ and ‘Abo’. I just really felt sorry for those people because anyone who’s happy, content and comfortable within themselves would never say that so they’ve obviously got issues,” she said.

Another troll posted “that’s what happens when you do drugs”.

Quaden and his Big Ted. Photograph; Renae Droop

“There are so many uneducated people in the world - it’s really sad that they don’t get to see the joy. I would love them to come and spend the day with us - I invite them. He’ll change your mind the first minute you meet him.”

The comments still hurt but the busy mum has no intention of allowing them to stop her raising awareness of Quaden’s condition.

“It makes me more motivated because I realise how much work we’ve really got to do,” Yarraka said.

“Nobody likes to hear nasty things about their kids or have them being bullied, but if I were to worry about that I’d be a mess. It’s probably 50 comments out of 50,000 that we’ve had to shake off, and thank God he doesn’t have to see it.”

What Quaden does see is strangers staring in the street.

“He’s very articulate so he’s learned to let us know what he’s not comfortable with. If he sees people staring, he’ll say ‘what are you looking at?’ I get quite embarrassed,” Yarraka said.

“He sees people staring before I do sometimes, but I don’t want to be one of those parents waiting for people’s reaction to him. We just go about our normal day.”

Quaden and mum Yarraka. Photograph; Renae Droop

The Facebook trolls also got more than they bargained for when Quaden’s supporters rallied to defend him, writing letters to one bully’s employer and parents.

“We’re raised strong and we instil that in him, but it’s going to happen and we’ve got to expect it. Every video we upload, I share it because it makes me laugh and I’ve seen the effect it has on other people. Unfortunately some people will judge him on his physical appearance and think otherwise, but they’re really not worth the energy.”

Quaden was diagnosed with achondroplasia when he was just three days old.

A combination of listening to the worst case scenarios and potential mortality rates sent Yarraka spiralling into depression, until she started meeting others with the condition and their families online.

South Sydney Rabbitohs fan Quaden with Russell Crowe.

“The most valuable support and advice I get is from people themselves who are living with dwarfism and families that are dealing with it every day. They’ve helped me raise him. I’m a single mum but it doesn’t feel like I am because I’ve got the whole worldwide dwarfism community behind us.”

Like most little boys his age, Quaden loves Lego, superheroes and his footy, but he’s also had major surgery where part of his skull was removed to make room for his spinal cord and brain stem.

“The last two years have been pretty full on. We’ve spent a lot more time in hospital than out of it lately,” Yarraka said.

Quaden also has severe obstructive sleep apnoea that can see him stop breathing up to 70 times a night and he needs a machine to help him sleep.

He has an extensive list of therapies to undergo including hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology.

Quaden leads the Broncos out onto Suncorp Stadium during the NRL indigenous round.

“Pretty much for every part of his body, he’s got a specialist that we see. He’s quite used to the hospital, he knows every single level.”

And for anyone who sees Quaden on the streets of Brisbane, Yarraka hopes they’ll see him like she does.

“Smile and wave, but don’t stare. A lot of people do a double take but then it turns into staring and then a frown,” she said.

“We just see him as Quaden and we think he’s adorable.”

To find out more, see the Stand Tall 4 Dwarfism Facebook page and http://dwarfismawarenessaustralia.com/