US mum's plea on Facebook: Please attend my daughter's birthday party

This article is more than 12 months old

Apr 20, 2015 08:12 pm

Like any child her age, Mackenzie Moretter wanted a party to celebrate her 10th birthday.

So her mother planned one and invited 10 of her classmates to attend.

But as Saturday (April 18) drew closer and closer, Mrs Moretter realised no one was going to turn up.

Not wanting her little girl to be sad, the desperate mother took to various Facebook groups just 12 hours before the event with a plea to strangers: Please attend my daughter's birthday party.

'Just stop by and wish her a happy birthday'

In the post, the US mother explained that Mackenzie had Sotos Syndrome, which can delay social development or cause speech impairments.

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She said: "At school she struggles and is often alone on the playground. As a mother, it is heartbreaking being you want your children to be happy (sic).

"I'm reaching out to mums who have daughters between the ages of 9 and 11 that would love to come to a birthday party tomorrow from 11 to 1.30. You don't have to bring gifts or stay long, just stop by and wish her a happy birthday."

Hundreds of people turned up

The response was overwhelming. Companies even offered to provide food, drinks and balloon sculpting free of charge.

On Saturday, more than 300 people attended the birthday party at a park in Shakopee, Minnesota.

A woman dressed as Elsa from Disney's hit movie Frozen was at the event. So was Minnesota Vikings football player Charles Johnson.

Local firefighters dropped by in a fire truck and Mayor Brad Tabke declared April 18, 2015, to be Mackenzie Moretter Day.

Many kids around Mackenzie's age showed up, just as her mother had wished.

Birthday greetings also flooded in from all over the world on the Mackenzie's Birthday Party Facebook page.

Mrs Moretter later thanked all the attendees.

She wrote on the page: "As a mother, I was heartbroken for my daughter. I see a side of Mackenzie the rest of the world may not be privy to – she's intelligent and thoughtful, courageous and kind. Mackenzie was deserving of one, special birthday."

She added: "On Saturday, you changed the life of a little girl that many of you have never met. And, you've given this mother purpose to spread a message of acceptance, tolerance and love, beyond just our home."

Watch Mackenzie's birthday speech here: