Fifth-grader Aiden Vasquez, a student described as “smarter” and “sweeter” than most of his classmates, was recently sent to the ER after suffering a brutal injury at the hands of a bully. While trying to retrieve his stolen backpack, Vasquez was struck in the face by his tormenter which resulted in a substantial laceration above his eye. After returning from the hospital, his mother updated concerned family in friends by posting “Aiden wants me to let everyone know he’s doing fine all stitched up and numb… he said he felt it in his soul not to hit the kid back. It’s not the Jedi way!” Yep. Aiden didn’t use violence to defend himself because it’s ‘Not the Jedi Way.’

Aiden’s attack only becomes more heartbreaking when you learn that this isn’t the first time he’s had to deal with this. Just last year his mother said he dealt with another cut to his cheek from the same bully, which also resulted in medical attention. Understandably infuriated by the lack of protection her son was receiving at school, Aiden’s mother took to social media.

His heartbreaking and noble response to such ugliness did far from fall on deaf ears. His mother’s post was shared nearly 20,000 times and just so happened to catch the attention of the most powerful Jedi in the universe, Mark Hamill.

In a Tweet backing his Jedi brethren, Hamill praised Aiden’s courage and wisdom and even closed the Tweet with ‘Your Fan, mh.’ Hamill later reiterated his profound respect by saying: “I’m astonished by his wisdom & courage such a tender age. I may be a fictional Jedi, but this boy is the real deal. Not sure how to reach out to him, but I hope he sees this message & knows how much I admire him.”

Aiden is expected to fully recover from his injuries.