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Child who asked for Christmas cards receives more than 1 million – including one from the Obamas Child who asked for Christmas cards receives more than 1 million – including one from the Obamas
(2 days later)
It started with a small request.It started with a small request.
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.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.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.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,” 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
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.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.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.“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.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.
A man dressed as Santa Claus water skis alongside reindeer on the Potomac River in Alexandra, Virginia.
A volunteer dressed in a Father Christmas (Santa Claus) outfit distributes gifts to children of asylum-seekers, as they arrive at the Schoenefeld train station near Berlin on December 24, 2015, before being dispatched to various refugee centres in or near the German capital.
Leandro Wendell dos Santos, 14, wearing a Santa Claus costume, plays with kids as he walks along the alley of the Mare slums complex to distribute presents to children in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Leandro is part of a volunteer group of residents of Mare slums complex that distributes donated toys to children of the community.
Winter swimmers (L) look on as a man (R) wearing a Santa Claus hat and beard jumps into a pool carved into thick ice covering the Songhua River, to celebrate the upcoming Christmas, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China,
In Japan Christmas is not a national holiday, however it has developed into a celebration of western culture with KFC being the most popular place to eat on December 25th. KFC's around Japan regularly see street-long lines and advanced bookings
Filipinos crowd a store that is popular in selling hams as they do last-minute shopping on Christmas eve in Manila, Philippines. The predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines boasts of having the longest Christmas celebration that starts every last quarter of the year.
A man buys Christmas sweets at a supermarket on the outskirts of Budapest, Hungary. Hungarians could outspend last year's record on seasonal treats and Christmas fondants, giving some premium brands a hard time to keep up with strong demand.
Nigerian pilgrims gather at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank. Every year thousands of Christian pilgrims travel to the church that marks the site of the cave in which Jesus is said to have been born.
Christmas lights adorn the Usaquen park in Bogota, Colombia. The blow to Colombiaís holiday tradition is poignant given that El Nino is thought to be a reference to the baby Jesus, a name given to the climatic phenomenon long ago by South Americans who noted that it seemed to arrive around Christmas time.
Bon Bon, a 12-month-old koala, celebrating with Christmas decorations at the Rainforestation Nature Park in Cairns, Australia,
A young Thai student wearing a Santa hat poses for a photograph during a Christmas event at a school in the world heritage city of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 December 2015. The annual event is one of many held to celebrate the Christmas season in predominantly Buddhist Thailand.
Sri Lankan pedestrians walk past a decorated Christmas tree in Colombo. The leader of Sri Lanka's Catholics urged priests on not to put up Christmas trees in their churches over the festive period, saying they had no religious significance. Sri Lanka is a mainly Buddhist country but around 1.2 million of its overall population of 21 million people are Catholics.
Models wearing Santa Claus costumes wait to attend a special event to promote business in coincide with Christmas at Shinsegae department store in Seoul, South Korea. A lot of South Korean companies take advantage of the Christmas season to promote their business amid weak sales and economic slowdown.
A young Thai student wearing a Santa hat poses for a photograph during a Christmas event at a school in the world heritage city of Ayutthaya, north of Bangkok, Thailand, 24 December 2015. The annual event is one of many held to celebrate the Christmas season in predominantly Buddhist Thailand.
Carved radishes are displayed during the celebration of the "Night of the Radishes" at the Ocototlan de Morelos community in Oaxaca State, Mexico. The Night of the Radishes is an annual carving event two days before christmas that has its origins in the colonial period when radishes were introduced by the Spanish. Farmers began carving radishes into figures as a way to attract customers attention during the Christmas market.
A man dressed as Santa Claus walks on zebra crossing during a Christmas charity event in central Seoul, South Korea
A Greek school's principal, Yani Demircioglu, surrounded by Greek Orthodox children, plays an accordion during a Christmas celebration at the main shopping and pedestrian street of Istiklal in central Istanbul
Reuters
A boy meets Father Christmas at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur
A fire-breather performs during a street show on Christmas Eve in Baclaran, City of Paranaque
Volunteers take part in a traditional Mexican Christmas celebration known as Posada Mexicana at a migrant shelter in Saltillo, Mexico. Posada Mexicana commemorates the journey of the Holy Family from Galilee to Bethlehem
Italian artist Gaspare di Caro, right, lights up Christ the Redeemer in Rio
Reuters
A view of All Saints Cathedral, decorated ahead of Christmas celebrations, in Allahabad
Firefighter Hector Chacon, centre, dressed as Father Christmas, delivers gifts to impoverished children after descending from a 150-metre bridge, behind
A Father Christmas is painted onto a wall in a Christian neighbourhood in Karachi
3D projections designed by students of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology are projected onto the facade of the Presidential Palace
A snowman and Christmas tree erected in Red Square
EPA
People crowd around for a view of a 3D Christmas tree erected in a shopping park
EPA
Cleaners dressed in a Father Christmas and a reindeer costume clean the windows of a shopping mall
EPA
A woman prays at the Shanghai International Chapel during a Christmas Eve Mass
Reuters
A Bangladeshi man dressed as Father Christmas entertains children during an event to mark Christmas Day in Dhaka
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.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.”“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...
According to the Associated Press, Safyre will be passing along some of what she has gotten. AP reports: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.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.“We want other children to feel the joy that Safyre feels,” Dolder told the news agency.
© Washington Post© Washington Post