How to properly convert this buffer to a json where keys match SchemaTypes for mongoose?

PROBLEM: Mongoose throws an error when trying to pass a Buffer converted to String/json because the "key types" do not match the Mongoose SchemaTypes.

Question: How do I take a string that looks like json {name:'heyhey'} that was converted to a buffer <Buffer 7b 6e 61 6d 65 3a 27 68 65 79 68 65 79 27 7d> and return it back string/json {name:'heyhey'}AND matches the proper SchemaTypes mongoose expects name: String ? Lol wut?

Understanding why: I'm using an Mongoose + MongoDB + MQTTjs.

Starting with my publish script in MQTT:

./publish/index.js

var mqtt    = require('mqtt');
var client  = mqtt.connect('mqtt://test.mosquitto.org');
client.publish('presence', "{name:'heyhey'}");

client.end();

This works as intended; however, the problems come about when you look at the client.publish() method whereby it converts the message to a buffer via readable-stream , i think?

Now let's look at thing.controller.js which will be subscribed to the presence topic:

var Thing = require('./thing.model');
var mqtt    = require('mqtt');
var client  = mqtt.connect('mqtt://test.mosquitto.org');

client.subscribe('presence');

client.on('message', function (topic, message) {
  // message is Buffer 
  console.log('message buffer', message)
  // message buffer <Buffer 7b 6e 61 6d 65 3a 27 68 65 79 68 65 79 27 7d>

  var convertMessage = message.toString();
  //{name:'heyhey'}
  Thing.create(convertMessage, function(err, message) {
      console.log(message, "callback message")
      if(err) { return handleError(res, err); }
  });
});

This Thing.create will through an error

if (obj && '_id' in obj) continue;
                          ^
TypeError: Cannot use 'in' operator to search for '_id' in {name:'heyhey'}

Which is because of the mongoose model is expecting that the name key is a string:

var ThingSchema = new Schema({
  name: String,
  active: Boolean
});