A 7-year-old Wyoming girl, left without guests at her birthday party after every invitation from her friends was canceled, got an unexpected surprise when strangers rushed to celebrate instead.
Chloe Blandin was sitting with her family at a pizzeria in Cody, Wyoming, surrounded by decorations and birthday cake — but no party guests — last weekend when her mother, Melanie O’Donnell, put out a desperate plea for help in a local Facebook group.
“She hadn’t made a lot of friends yet, and I really wanted her to have a great day,” O’Donnell said Cowboy State Daily said.
The family had originally planned to hold the ceremony in a garden but moved it indoors due to the extreme heat. Even after the change in plans, every invited guest backed out.
“Our decorations were done, I bought this big cake, and we were all sitting in the center of the hallways downstairs by ourselves,” O’Donnell said.
O’Donnell, whose family moved to Cody earlier this year, asked local parents if anyone with children could come to the party.
More than 150 people responded to the Facebook post within minutes, and about 15 families showed up at the pizzeria with gifts for Chloe.
The newspaper reported that Chloe faces developmental challenges that have made it difficult for her to make friends.
“The people who attended were complete strangers, but they all acted as if they had always known each other,” O’Donnell said.
“The kids were so cute and well behaved. Chloe had a great time.”
She also said a man in Montana sent $25 via Venmo so Khloe could get another birthday gift.
The family moved to Cody after O’Donnell’s mother and grandmother died.
After the party, O’Donnell A post was shared on Facebook She reflects on her daughter’s birthday and the birthdays of her late relatives.
“So many birthdays this week. Mom’s 2nd birthday in heaven. You would have reached retirement age this year. Chloe’s 7th birthday. You had a special birthday this year. Grandma Decker’s 1st birthday in heaven,” she wrote.
“All these amazing women who are a part of me and the young woman my daughter has become. All of my strength has come from all of you.”
Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis later Share the story on Xwriting, “So happy to see Cody rallying around Khloe and helping make her 7th birthday memorable. Happy birthday, Khloe!!”