Organizing a birthday party for your child is hard work, but it’s worth it just to see that huge smile on your child’s face when their friends arrive.
But when Ashlee Buratti, from Florida, sent out 16 invites for her son’s 6th birthday party, she never expected to get zero replies.
Ashlee went ahead and held the party in the hope that somebody would show up but not one person attended.
Her son Glenn, who is mildly autistic and suffers with epilepsy, tried to hide his tears but Ashlee knew how heartbroken he was. So, she took to social media to make an emotional plea and couldn’t believe the response.
Visiting my grandma
Posted by John Buratti on Tuesday, July 29, 2014
“He was so devastated when he realized no one was coming to his birthday party that he refused to smile,” Ashlee told ABC News. “He tried to hide the fact that he was crying by pinching the bridge of his nose.”
Glenn had invited all 16 of his Kindergarten classmates to his 6th birthday party but not one of them showed up.
His mom issued a desperate plea on social media
Appeal went viral
“I know this might be something silly to rant about, but my heart is breaking for my son,” Ashlee wrote on Facebook. “He keeps asking ‘when will my friends get here?’”
The post quickly went viral and within an hour the guests started to arrive.
Huge thank you to Osceola County Sheriff's Department, Osceola County Fire Rescue and Frank who owns Koffee Kup for…
Posted by John Buratti on Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Osceola County Sheriff’s Department sent a helicopter to celebrate Glenn’s special day. It circled the house for 20 minutes even swooping low to wave at the birthday boy.
Huge thank you to Osceola County Sheriff's Department, Osceola County Fire Rescue and Frank who owns Koffee Kup for…
Posted by John Buratti on Wednesday, February 11, 2015
The first guest was the owner of a local pet shop and her family who even bough a gift for Glenn. Soon after more families stopped by to celebrate his birthday and Glenn’s sad face soon disappeared.
Huge thank you to Osceola County Sheriff's Department, Osceola County Fire Rescue and Frank who owns Koffee Kup for…
Posted by John Buratti on Wednesday, February 11, 2015
The celebrations even continued later in the week when police cars, fire trucks, a SWAT van and a canine unit showed up at Glenn’s house to wish him a Happy Birthday.
“At first he was scared and got a little upset but when I explained it was all for him, he just loved it,” mom Ashlee told ABC News.
Huge thank you to Osceola County Sheriff's Department, Osceola County Fire Rescue and Frank who owns Koffee Kup for…
Posted by John Buratti on Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Ashlee says despite not receiving one explanation from any of the parents who didn’t show up, she holds no grudge, she just wants people to be more thoughtful.
“When you are thinking about something as simple as a birthday party, think about the child who is sitting there waiting for his friends to show up,” she said.
Went and got my son a new toy for his birthday. He's happy.
Posted by John Buratti on Sunday, February 8, 2015
The kindness of strangers really saved the day in this case.
Please share this story to pay tribute to the people who took time out of their day to spend it making a boy, they didn’t know, very happy.
