Boy inundated with birthday gifts after no-show party

LAKE STATION, IN (KTRK) -- A grandmother in Indiana was heartbroken when her grandson, who had brain surgery, was stood up by his friends on his birthday. But now, complete strangers are making it up to him, inundating him with presents.

Gerald Hamilton's birthday was last week. None of the 30 children invited to his party showed up.

Outraged, his grandmother, Amelia Lara, took to Facebook with a mission. She asked people to mail cards to her grandson. She told local station WBBM, "It's heartbreaking, he's just a kid who wants friends to play with."

The post was shared thousands of times and now the family is overwhelmed by the response - and the mountains of gifts headed Gerald's way, from a bike to a $100 bill.

But Gerald says he just wants one thing: friends.

WBBM reports Gerald may have a new friend after all. The family of a boy who had the same surgeries got in touch with Gerald's grandma. A play date for the two boys is now in the works.