A much-needed reminder that there is still some good in the world.
Mackenzie Moretter just turned 10-years-old. She loves swimming, holidays and spending time with her family at their Minnesota home. She also has a rare genetic disorder known as Sotos Syndrome, which means she has brain damage and struggles with social situations.
Mackenzie’s mother Jenny recently organised an awesome birthday party to celebrate – but sadly, not a single classmate RSVP’d yes. A heartbroken Mrs Moretter, desperate for her little girl to feel like a normal 10-year-old, took to Facebook to ask for help.
She posted:
Hello moms. I’m writing because I have a beautiful daughter named Mackenzie who is turning 10. I recently invited several girls to her birthday party this Saturday. I got cancellations or no calls at all saying whether there (sic) coming or not.
My daughter has Sotos Syndrome which means she has development delays such as speech and learning. She is incredibly loving and wants more than anything to have friends. At school she struggles and is often alone in the playground. As a mother, it is heartbreaking…you want your children to be happy.
I’m reaching out to moms who have daughters between the ages of 9-11 that would love to come to a birthday party tomorrow from 11-1.30. You don’t have to bring gifts or stay long, just stop by and wish her a happy birthday.
As of now, I have 2 girls coming which is family. She would be surprised to have other girls just show up…Thank you all for reading a mothers wish!
Related: This 5yo girl has put your last charity fun-run to shame.
The internet can be a pretty dark and cruel place sometimes. We see taunts, rude letters, Twitter abuse; the worst of humanity. However this story? It’s a reminder that the internet and our interconnectedness can actually be a force for good.
Because even though her classmates wouldn’t, a massive 400 people attended little Mackenzie’s birthday party.
Guests included local sporting heroes, volunteer performers who came dressed as Disney characters. Local businesses donated food, drinks and decorations to make it a truly special celebration for the little girl.
Strangers also uploaded songs for Mackenzie via her mother’s Facebook page, which was flooded with birthday messages for the little girl.
Take that, nasty classmates.
Top Comments
Kindness and generosity defeats self centredness, rudeness and callousness. What a great result 😊
According to good manners, the children should have responded 'yes' or 'no' and it appears that they did. Not wanting to go to the party is a separate issue. I'm really pleased that (Mackenzie - some little girl on the other side of the world) had a nice day but Sotos kids "struggle with social situations" usually because of autistic types of behaviour. You can't make kids like other kids and that's not a matter of manners. If Mackenzie gets left out at school, I wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall at a party where the invitees turned up for no other reason than 'manners'. Left out at school is hard. Marginalised at your own party would be utterly devastating.