Fetty Wap Thanked In Touching Instagram Post From Mom Whose Son Was Inspired By The Rapper — Find Out Why

New Jersey rapper Fetty Wap is known for his hit songs like “Trap Queen,” which hit No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in May of 2015. Fetty Wap is also known for his incredibly distinct appearance — long blonde dreads, facial tattoos, and of course, the fact that he’s missing his left eye.

According to E! Online, Fetty spoke with Sirius XM radio in February. During the conversation, Fetty Wap explained that he had been in an accident when he was younger and developed congenital glaucoma in both eyes as a result. Due to the disease, he had to have his left eye removed at a young age. He was fitted with a prosthetic eye that he wore for most of his life but ultimately decided to stop wearing it once he launched his rap career.

The confidence Fetty Wap has shown in rocking his missing eye without a prosthetic has inspired a young boy who’s facing almost the same challenges as Fetty, reports MTV News.

Ten-year-old Jayden Vaden was diagnosed with retinoblastoma when he was a year old. Two weeks after his first birthday, Jayden had to have his right eye removed. In a touching and emotional Instagram post that was also posted on Facebook, Jayden’s mom thanks Fetty Wap for inspiring her son to have the confidence to be himself and for showing the world that it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Read the post in its entirety below.

“(Warning: long sentimental post ahead) Today I am forever thankful to a young man named Willie Maxwell aka Fetty Wap. While his music is catchy (not always agree with his lyrics but hey who am I to judge…), I’m not necessarily his fan (although Trap Queen is my jam), BUT today I’m his biggest fan.

Many close friends, and of course our family know that Jayden was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma at the age of 1. In result of that he had his right eye removed 2 weeks after his 1st bday. He’s worn a prosthetic eye since then. He has always been terrified of taking it out and would not be caught without it…and then comes along Fetty Wap… Similar to Jayden he lost an eye at a young age and along the way he decided that he didn’t want to wear his prosthetic eye anymore, so he stopped. Jayden, let it be known, is a Fetty Wap fan, a real fan, not like me ha! Well, today, after weeks of asking, Jayden is venturing the world without his prosthetic. I of course am a wreck because this world can be cruel, but so proud of our Boogies. This young rapper unknowingly gave Jayden something we weren’t able to give him-the confidence to be different- and I am grateful to him. Thanks to Fetty Wap for saying F the world this is me, and for helping make our baby boy just a little more remarkable than he already is. And we’ll be purchasing his album, a small thank you to him for changing Jayden’s life forever.”

Yesterday, after Jayden’s story had gone viral, Fetty Wap himself got wind of it. He found the original Instagram post, and to make this story even more touching, personally wrote a message to both Jayden and his mother.

“All I wanna do is show ppl that it’s not how you look or what you see it’s how you see it and what your [sic] looking for from yourself. I appreciate his confidence I appreciate you taking the time out for me and thank you for being a fan of me as a person and thank lil man for being a fan of Fetty Wap.”

Way to go, Fetty Wap!

[Image Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images]