Child who asked for Christmas cards receives more than 1 million – including one from the Obamas
Eight-year-old Safyre Terry suffered severe injuries in a fire that killed her father, younger sister and two younger brothers
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Basically, here’s the short version of what happened: This year, Liz Dolder put up a Christmas card tree. Safyre Terry, 8, helped out and was excited to fill it up, according to Dolder, who is also Safyre’s aunt and legal guardian. Dolder had told her that she thought it probably wouldn’t happen.
A photo of Safyre and the card tree was shared online, though, and Dolder’s friends helped out. That’s essentially how the request for Christmas cards grew. And grew. And grew.
Fast-forward a few weeks. Safyre — who suffered severe injuries in a 2013 fire that killed her father, younger sister and two younger brothers — has received loads of cards. Actually, she’s gotten more than a million of them, according to the Associated Press — including one from the White House.
“Safyre had the honor of getting a card from the President, First Lady and family,” read an update on the Safyre Schenectady’s Super Survivor Facebook page, which was posted this week. “THANK YOU Mr. President and First Lady.”
Safyre had the honor of getting a card from the President, First Lady and family.THANK YOU Mr. President and First Lady <3
Posted by Safyre Schenectady's Super Survivor on Tuesday, 22 December 2015
You might have already heard about Safyre this holiday season. The card campaign, which we’ve written about, spread quickly online, and cards poured in from around the world.
Updates posted to Facebook show piles of cards, handwritten notes and other gifts. There are dolls, art supplies and stuffed animals. Volunteers are helping the family sort through it all, AP reported.
“Even with all the volunteers, we haven’t even brushed the surface,” Dolder told AP.
When Safyre was just 5, an arsonist set fire to her family’s apartment stairwell. Safyre survived, but her foot and hand were eventually amputated, and she lost skin on her face.
In addition to the holiday cards, Safyre has received a 3-D printed hand from students at the University at Albany, who spent months working on the project, according to another Facebook update.
“You should have seen her face when they presented her with the first generation 3D printed hand,” it read. “Priceless.”
Safyre had a surprise visit today. From students from UAlbany that have been working on a hand for her for months. You...
Posted by Safyre Schenectady's Super Survivor on Tuesday, 22 December 2015
According to the Associated Press, Safyre will be passing along some of what she has gotten. AP reports:
Over the holidays, Safyre and some of the volunteers who have been helping her since the devastating fire two years ago plan to visit shelters in the Albany area to distribute some of the gifts Safyre has received, as well as some new ones to children who are homeless or victims of domestic violence, said Liz Dolder, the girl’s aunt. She said they’ll also take gifts to Boston’s Shriners Hospital, where Safyre receives ongoing treatment.
“We want other children to feel the joy that Safyre feels,” Dolder told the news agency.
© Washington Post
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