A little girl’s Christmas wish is lighting up the internet this week with the spirit of giving.
Safyre is a young burn victim who lost her whole family in a fire two years ago. But this Christmas, the New York girl who has lost so much is asking for one thing – enough Christmas cards to fill her aunt’s card tree.
Redbook reports that in 2013, the little girl’s father managed to save her from a fire (reportedly arson) by shielding her body with his; however, he and the rest of Safyre’s family died in the blaze, according to the report. Now, the 8-year-old lives with her aunt, Liz Dodler. Though Safyre survived the fire, she had burns all over her body. Since the tragic incident, Safyre has undergone more than 50 surgeries, including having her right hand and left foot amputated, according to the report.
“Safyre lost everything—her father, her mother, her sister, her brothers, her home, her favorite toy, her favorite outfit — everything that was familiar to her,” her aunt said. “She even lost the one thing we all take for granted—her reflection. But she wakes every morning with a smile on her face. She is the true definition of hope, faith and love.”
This Christmas, to fulfill the young girl’s wish, friends of the Dodlers set up a YouCaring fundraiser to help pay for the costs of Safyre’s medical treatments and sent out a call for people across the world to send Christmas cards.
Her story went viral on Tuesday, first through social media and later news outlets. Safyre’s story spread all across the world thanks to the help of a man named Kevin Clark, who was distantly connected to the family, the New York Daily Gazette reports. It was Clark who began heavily promoting Safyre’s story online and encouraging people to respond.
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The family opened the first set of cards Tuesday evening, but based on the response online, the family is certain that Safyre will receive more than enough cards to fill their Christmas card tree, according to the newspaper.
Safyre “loves it,” her aunt told the newspaper. “She is so excited.”
“This is incredible,” she continued. “This is over the moon. … The world is in such turmoil, and then for this one man to bring about all this peace from all around the world – to rally the world for this little girl is marvelous.”
It truly is miraculous to see so many people work to brighten a little girl’s life.
Cards may be mailed to: Safyre, P.O. Box 6126, Schenectady, NY 12306 USA.
