Facebook does about-face on advertisement for sick infant
DURHAM (WTVD) -- The father of a sick infant says the Facebook social media website has changed its mind and will allow an advertisement to raise money for his baby after all.
Hudson Bond was born on July 18. A week later his parents found out he needed a new heart.
Father Kevin Bond told ABC11 the family turned to Facebook to raise awareness and money for medical costs, but the social media giant said a picture of the infant was too graphic.
After we aired his story, messages of encouragement and outrage started pouring in.
"I was getting calls and emails and Facebook messages from Hawaii, and Alaska, and Michigan," said Bond. "Then it started going global. There was a lot of anger at Facebook, and then a lot of people just telling us how handsome our son is."
Click here to read our original story.
But Wednesday, Hudson's dad received a personal phone call from Facebook. The company apologized for rejecting the Hudson's Heart ad, blaming their automated system which accidentally flagged Hudson's photo. Facebook is offering $10,000 in ad credits to the help with the family's Facebook page, Hudson's Heart.
The family also has a donor website to cover their child's mounting medical bills.
"It was a bold gesture on their part," said Bond. "I appreciated it."
Bond plans to pay it forward by donating half of the ad credits to Eliza O'Neill. The Tampa girl suffers from Sanfilippo Syndrome. Her family is trying to raise $2 million so she can take part in a life-saving clinical trial.
Click here to see Eliza's funding page.
Through Hudson's story, Bond hopes to inspire others to give back in the same way the messages from others inspired him.
"I'm blown away," said Bond. "It's the most incredible thing I've seen. It restores your faith in humanity really. It's amazing."
