Ryan Murray's 8th birthday was coming up on Friday and his mother, Melissa Hall, didn't know what to do. Her family had fallen on hard financial times.
What's more, her son suffered from Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and struggled with Crohns disease and arthritis every day.
"He's stronger than anyone I know," Hall said, describing her youngest son as a quiet boy who loves video games and Legos. "I just want him to feel as normal as possible and get the same birthday his brothers did."
Her plight was posted on Facebook and the community response was overwhelming.
Within hours, over 70 people commented on the post, offering clothes, money and food.
"Hemet has gotten a really bad rep with all this high crime, so you ask 'Why are we living here?'" she said. "Then something like this happens and you see how many good-hearted people live here."
Wall said the manager of Hometown Buffet is throwing Ryan a party Friday, and another person offered to pay for the family to go to a trampoline park.
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The whole experience has shown Hall the good of the community and that she isn't alone in helping her sick son and family, she said.
"I thought I was all on my own, and it's amazing what the community has come together to do," she said. "I am just trying to do the best I can to give them the best they can have."
Editor's note: This story has been edited from its original version.
