Alexander Betts
Alexander was just sixteen years old when he attempted to kill himself. Like many victims of bullying, he hid the fact from his family. Admitting that you're being bullied isn't easy, especially when sexuality is involved. Some teens don't want to worry their families, while others are afraid that telling their families will just make matters worse for them at school. Many teens who are being bullied simply soldier on, trying to get through each day as it comes.
Alexander had been bullied most of his life, primarily for being mixed race and for having a cleft lip. He was born with a unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate and spent most of his childhood undergoing numerous surgeries in an attempt to reconstruct his face. By the time he turned fifteen, Alexander finally completed his last surgery and had his braces removed. For the first time in his life, he was happy with how he looked.
Unfortunately, the bullying continued and escalated when Alexander was involuntarily "outed" as homosexual at Southeast Polk High School in Iowa. Despite the constant torment that he endured, he still chose to protect his Mother from the horrors he faced at school. It was only after his attempted suicide that she discovered exactly what her son was dealing with.
From the moment Alexander was taken to hospital and put on life support, his Mother Sheryl refused to leave his bedside. Chances of recovery were practically zero, but medical staff worked to repair damage to his internal organs in order for them to be donated.
Alexander had been bullied most of his life, primarily for being mixed race and for having a cleft lip. He was born with a unilateral cleft lip and cleft palate and spent most of his childhood undergoing numerous surgeries in an attempt to reconstruct his face. By the time he turned fifteen, Alexander finally completed his last surgery and had his braces removed. For the first time in his life, he was happy with how he looked.
Unfortunately, the bullying continued and escalated when Alexander was involuntarily "outed" as homosexual at Southeast Polk High School in Iowa. Despite the constant torment that he endured, he still chose to protect his Mother from the horrors he faced at school. It was only after his attempted suicide that she discovered exactly what her son was dealing with.
From the moment Alexander was taken to hospital and put on life support, his Mother Sheryl refused to leave his bedside. Chances of recovery were practically zero, but medical staff worked to repair damage to his internal organs in order for them to be donated.
Alexander's death sent shock waves through his local community, where Teen suicide linked directly to anti gay bullying seems to be something of a worrying trend. After speaking with Alexander's friends and other students at Southeast Polk High School, Mrs. Moore finally began to understand what lead her son to take his own life. She discovered that Alexander had endured intense homophobic bullying at school for a year and a half. Many of his friends claim that teachers were aware of the bullying but pretended to not see it, basically leaving Alexander to his fate. Others admitted that they too were being bullied and did not feel safe at school. Several admitted that they had felt suicidal because of the bullying, but Alexander had supported them and managed to lift their spirits when they were most vulnerable.
Mrs. Moore has vowed to honor her son''s memory by educating people on "how words hurt." Alexander spent his entire life helping others and trying to make them feel good. His Mom is determined to continue his legacy.
Explaining her son's death as "the most painful thing I have been through in my entire life," Mrs. Moore knows that part of Alexander will live on in his final selfless act of wanting to help others - Suitable candidates were found to receive his liver and kidneys
Mrs. Moore has vowed to honor her son''s memory by educating people on "how words hurt." Alexander spent his entire life helping others and trying to make them feel good. His Mom is determined to continue his legacy.
Explaining her son's death as "the most painful thing I have been through in my entire life," Mrs. Moore knows that part of Alexander will live on in his final selfless act of wanting to help others - Suitable candidates were found to receive his liver and kidneys
“We had no indication that anything was wrong. He is the happiest kid I’ve ever met. Everybody who meets him says that. It must have been really horrible, if my son got to the point where he would hurt my husband, my daughters and I to take his own life.” ~ Sheryl Moore, Alexander's Mom.