CNN news anchor Kate Bolduan took deep breaths as her voice wavered as she read the recent story about a 5-year-old Syrian boy covered in debris, dirt and blood that went viral on social media Thursday.

The boy was rushed into an ambulance after being injured in airstrikes on rebel-held districts in the war-torn country. Bolduan remarked that in many places in the world a 5-year-old would be getting ready to start school for the first time, while this young child was just trying to stay alive.

“They’re dying, they’re surviving and many, somewhere in between,” Bolduan said, shaking her head and holding back tears. “According to activists, this is Omran,” she said as her voice quivered and she cleared her throat looking down.

She took a deep breath, looked at the teleprompter and continued to read the harrowing tale of survival for the tiny child as the station rolled footage of the boy being carried by first responders into the ambulance.

“He lives with his mom, his dad and his brother and sister. Their home is inside Aleppo, Syria. It was hit by a bomb. An air strike. Who’s behind it, we do not know.”

The boy sat on a gurney looking at his arms covered in dust and dirt. “His family were pulled alive from what is left of their home after being buried in the rubble,” she continues.

“What strikes me is we shed tears, but there are no tears here. He doesn’t cry once. That little boy is in total shock. He’s stunned,” she said through tears. “He’s inside his home one moment and the next he’s lost in the fury of war and chaos.”

“He’s alive, we wanted you to know,” Bolduan closed.

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