One month after Julianne Bujega put out her heartwarming call to help her celebrate her daughter’s 11th birthday, she has revealed that thousands responded to her request.
After posting on Facebook asking for people to help make Alyssa’s birthday extra special, Julianna received hundreds upon hundreds of cards from strangers all around the world, wishing Alyssa, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a happy birthday.
After lining the walls with the cards for Alyssa to see, Julianna then posted a video onto her Facebook showing exactly how many there are – a number she puts at around 3270.
If you were one of the kind people who wrote Alyssa a card for her birthday, you’ve truly made a difference.
Read our original story on Alyssa and her mother below.
When Alyssa Kotsopoulos was born her parents were told by doctors she would not live to see her 2nd birthday.
The beautiful little girl they welcomed into the world on the 2nd of July, 2004, was diagnosed with a motor neuron disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The genetic killer robs young children of their ability to move, swallow, smile, talk and eventually breathe.
At just 11-months-old, Alyssa’s mother, Julianne Bujega, was told that her daughter might never come off her ventilator. She and her husband were devastated. They spent the night holding their daughter, crying and showering her with kisses, unsure of how much longer they would be able to do so.
“Being pulled into a room and told this in an ICU is the most devastating thing. You feel like your soul has been ripped out of you and your heart has been stomped on a million times,” Miss Bujega says. “We were not going to let her go without a fight and most certainly weren’t going to sign a do not resuscitate like we were offered”.
It has now been just over a decade since that fateful night the family were told to prepare for the worst.
Though Alyssa has defied the odds and survived, her quality of life is still low. There is no way to stop or slow the progression of her condition. Alyssa’s family can do little but watch as she loses her ability to cough, swallow and move.
“It’s hard watching your child suffer because they have a disability,” Miss Bujega says. “But although she goes through so much, she still smiles. Her strength and love gets us through. We love her with all our hearts and will continue to do all we can to keep her happy and give her the happy life she deserves”.
Earlier this week Alyssa got ill again. She caught a severe cold and was put on a breathing machine.
Throughout the ordeal she had just one request: “hold my hand, mummy”.
Mrs Bujega made a pledge. Though her daughter was bed-ridden, she was determined to show her how loved she was by people around the world.
“We need a big favor,” Alyssa’s family said to The Weekly. “We want to make Alyssa’s 11th birthday an amazing one but we need your help. To celebrate we plan to organise a party. We want to make this day extra special for Alyssa and her friends”.
Their aim is to cover every wall in the house with cards and pictures from well-wishing strangers around the world.
“We are asking if everyone could send Alyssa a card for her birthday, a picture your child has drawn or a letter saying hello. It would make her so happy and make her birthday so special seeing that people all over the world have wished her a happy birthday.
“She loves you all and wishes you all could come to her party, so I think by having all your birthday cards and pictures around our house, its going be like you all are there.”
Image via Jay Zen on Facebook
Already kind strangers around the world have begun to rally behind the campaign.
“Her strength and love gets us through. We love her with all our hearts and will continue to do all we can to keep her happy and giving her the happy life she deserves”.
If you can help make this One-Direction and Frozen obsessed girl’s 11th birthday a little brighter, you can send letters to this address:
Alyssa Kotsopoulos
PO Box 5409
Cairnlea,
Victoria, Australia 3023
