PRESCOTT, Wis. – An entire school got to take part in a birthday surprise for one of its students when a Harlem Globetrotters star, Zeus McClurkin, stopped by, WCCO reported.
The celebration included a special message about bullying for a 10-year-old boy who's had to endure his fair share.
Zeus McClurkin explained the ABCs of preventing bullying. Bullying is something that Ethan Kranig, 10, knows quite a bit about. He has a rare genetic condition that can cause missing fingers and toes, a cleft lip and growth problems. Ethan has also lost much of his eyesight.
His mother, Natalie Kranig, says they recently resolved a bullying issue.
"The kid was calling Ethan a name and it really hurt him,” she said. “He came home crying. We talked to the teachers about it and the kid wrote an apology. Ethan came home and said, ‘You know what, that kid wrote an apology and I forgive him Mom.’"
Wyatt Kranig, Ethan’s big brother, said it hurts him the way his brother is sometimes treated.
“You know he's a unique kid,” he said. “Once you really get to know the guy, he's amazing."
The Globetrotters heard about Ethan and decided to pay him a visit in his hometown of Prescott.
McClurkin also brought Ethan tickets to see the Globetrotters perform in Wisconsin later this month.