Last year, Hallee Sorenson had a terrible 18th birthday. She'd invited all of her classmates to join her for bowling and ice cream cake, but unfortunately, no one showed. Sorenson, who happens to be autistic, spent the duration of her party crying into her cake, wondering why none of her friends came to celebrate.
This year, though, Sorenson's cousin, Rebecca Lyn, decided to take a proactive step toward ensuring her dear cousin would have the beautiful birthday she so rightly deserves.
Lyn posted a powerful message on Facebook, explaining what had happened to Sorenson last year. She requested that folks send Sorenson cards this year to help make her cousin's 19th birthday completely spectacular.
What began as a simple request has since spiraled into a viral sensation. In just 48 hours, Lyn's message was shared over 120,000 times and continues making its way around the internet. Sorenson has already received over 10,000 cards, gifts, flowers, and other birthday well wishes. Her touching story has also inspired others to share their own similar stories, spreading further awareness.
Scroll through to learn more about all the incredible ways Sorenson's 19th birthday is on track to be her best birthday yet.
[H/T: Daily Mail]
Last year, Hallee Sorenson, a Maine native who happens to be autistic, invited all of her friends to celebrate her 18th birthday with bowling and ice cream cake.
However, when it came time for her party, no one showed.
Her mother, Allyson C. Sorenson told Daily Mail, "I was hiding behind a pillar crying and sent the picture to my husband asking him what I should do.
"I didn't know what I should tell her."
To make sure last year's events do not repeat themselves, Sorenson's cousin, Rebecca Lyn, recently posted a Facebook message.
In her message, she requested that folks help make Sorenson's 19th birthday awesome by sending her celebratory cards.
Lyn wrote on Facebook, "I would love to flood her mailbox with birthday cards, from all over! Hal loves getting mail – this would be the best birthday gift she could ask for."
And flood her mailbox she certainly has.
Lyn's simple request has blown up into a viral movement.
Folks from all over the country are overflowing Sorenson's mailbox with birthday love.
Aside from all of the cards this birthday girl has already received, kind souls have also started sending gifts — like this awesome paint by numbers set!
Sorenson's mom, Allyson, told LittleThings, "My favorites have been the drawings people have had their children draw for Hallee, the groups of drawings from entire classrooms sent in by teachers, and cards signed by every resident at nursing homes.
"A woman knit an entire afghan for Hallee in her favorite colors (pink and purple) and two-day mailed it from California. She signed the note, 'From your adopted Grandma in California.' How do you not die over that?
"I can't pick a favorite, they're all so amazing. The cards from parents of kids like mine who just say, 'We're here, you're not alone,' they mean the world to me."
Lyn wrote of her cousin on Facebook, "Hallee is an amazing person — a person I am proud to be related to.
"She is also a person who just happens to have Autism.
"She has never let that small detail define who she is as a person — which is why I refuse to use it as something to describe her."
Of Sorenson's terrible birthday last year, Lyn wrote, "My cousin is a beautiful young woman who will always have the mind of a child… so as you can imagine, she was heartbroken and beyond sad. She was hurt…"
But thanks to her loving cousin's bold and beautiful idea, folks from all over the world have rallied behind Sorenson, cementing her 19th birthday as a beautiful, heartwarming life event.
Sorenson's mom told LittleThings that this experience has proved to her, "People are inherently good and want to help.
"I've gotten letters and gifts for Hallee from Trump supporting groups, Hillary supporting groups… you name it. Politics don't matter when you see a child hurting. We all want to help."
So far, the gifts keep coming.
Sorenson even received a birthday card from Kelsey Doherty of the Boston Red Sox!
Allyson told LittleThings, "We're now on a first name basis with many floral delivery men, Fed Ex and postal workers.
"Hallee very politely told a floral delivery man, 'Sir, Sir, that's enough, please.' I'm doing my best to keep her sheltered from the craziness in order to keep her birthday FUN, not stressful."
This lucky birthday girl was also gifted with a few in person birthday greetings.
Another family, whose son had competed and won a bronze metal in the Special Olympics, gifted Sorenson with her own Special Olympics t-shirt and honorary gold medal.
A few officers from the Wakefield, MA police also wished Sorenson a happy birthday.
Allyson told us of this experience that, "Hallee 'gets' it.
"Even though she functions at a much lower age than her chronological years, she sees her name on all of the cards and says, 'That's me! These are all Hallee… oh, thank you, guys!'
"She's a loving, sweet, happy and empathetic girl. It's an honor and a privilege to be her mother."
While Sorenson's 18th birthday was awful, thanks to many strangers' beautifully kind gestures, her 19th birthday has blossomed into a gorgeous memory she'll likely never forget.
To see how you can send a birthday card yourself, check out the full Facebook post from Sorenson's cousin here.
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