Having a sibling is truly a gift. Brothers and sisters are often the first people you turn to in moments of joy, pain, or difficulty—they’re your built-in support system for life. For 8-year-old Ryan Suffern from North Carolina, that bond is especially strong. He and his twin sister, Amber, share an unbreakable connection, and Ryan loves her with all his heart. He cares about her so deeply that he’s even willing to give up some of his favorite toys just to make her happy.
Amber is heavier than Ryan and most of the kids in their class, and sadly, this made her the target of cruel teasing. Wanting the bullying to stop, Ryan decided to write a heartfelt letter to Santa. At first, he asked for a remote-controlled car and a helicopter, but then he changed his mind. There was something far more important he wanted: for kids to stop making fun of his sister.
In his letter, Ryan explained that Amber never does anything to deserve the bullying, and it’s unfair that she’s treated this way. His frustration and sadness were clear in every word. When their mother, Karen, read the letter to see what her children were hoping for, she broke down in tears. She already knew Amber was being bullied, but nothing she tried ever seemed to help.
“She would tell me the things kids said at school,” Karen shared. “They made her crawl on the bus floor. They made her eat things off the seats… It hurt me so much because I didn’t want her to feel the way I did when I was her age. And everything that was happening followed a pattern.”
After Ryan’s letter and Amber’s story gained attention, the twins were invited to Good Morning America. Amber told host Josh Elliott how she is constantly mistreated at school and doesn’t even understand why.
“They say I’m fat. They call me stupid and ugly. I don’t believe them,” she said bravely.
Amber described Ryan as funny, energetic, and protective. Besides asking Santa to stop the bullying, Ryan also wished for Amber’s favorite band, Big Time Rush, to attend her birthday. He just wanted her to smile.
Good Morning America made that wish come true by inviting the band to the show. Not only did Big Time Rush perform for Amber, but the twins were also given VIP tickets to one of the band’s concerts in New York City.
Once the story went viral, Amber’s school finally started taking the bullying seriously. Amber, who has ADHD, depression, and a mood disorder, was given extra support and protection. “The school called me, and they’re making sure she’s safe,” Karen said. “They seated her with her older cousin on the bus because that’s where most of the bullying happened.”
“For the last two days, she woke up without begging to stay home—a really good sign,” her mother added.
Everyone hopes Ryan’s wish comes true—not just for Amber, but for children everywhere. Bullying is a painful problem that affects far too many young lives.