Facebook does about-face on advertisement for sick infant

DURHAM , N.C. -- 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.

To raise awareness and money for medical costs, father Kevin Bond started a Facebook page called "Hudson's Heart." However, when he tried to advertise the page, the social media giant rejected the post because it was scary, gory or sensational, and evokes a negative response.

"I was really hurt actually. I mean I kind of cried. He's my son, I love him. And to have someone reject a picture... [of] my beautiful son lying in a hospital bed needing help - that really cut me," Bond told WTVD-TV, the ABC affiliate in Raleigh-Durham.

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 family.

Hudson has been diagnosed with the heart disease cardiomyopathy. At the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Duke Children's Hospital, the boy's surgeons have equipped the child with an artificial heart. It's helping keep Hudson alive, but only buys time for a heart transplant.

"I don't like to think of the odds in a negative way - I think he's going to make it," Bond said.

You can learn more about Hudson on the family's Facebook page, Hudson's Heart.

The family also has a donor website to cover the child's mounting medical bills.