Everyone Invited To 10-Year-Old's Shakopee Birthday
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - Every parent wants their child's birthday to be a day they'll remember. Jenny Moretter of Shakopee is no different.
When no one responded to her daughter's 10th birthday party invites, Moretter took to Facebook.
Moretter said the response she got is simply overwhelming.
"Ever since she was born it has been a struggle with Mackenzie," Moretter said on Friday.
Her daughter has a rare genetic disorder called Sotos Syndrome, which her parents say makes it harder for her to make friends.
"Her skull wasn't able to form completely, therefore it caused some brain damage," her father, Matt Moretter, said.
What makes her different is minor, compared with what makes Mackenzie just like everyone else, her father said.
"For other birthdays in the past, it has mostly been family," Matt Moretter said. "She wanted to have a 'big girl birthday party' with friends coming over and stuff this time."
The Moretters said they sent out some invites to students at school, but they say the other children don't know Mackenzie very well, and no one responded.
"I want so much for much for Mackenzie to belong and for her to have friends and people to accept her for who she is," Jenny Moretter said.
Jenny Moretter decided to post in a few Facebook groups asking for girls around Mackenzie's age to please stop by their home in Shakopee Saturday for a birthday party.
"I honestly thought it would be a matter of a few other moms out there who I touched their heartstrings," Jenny Morreter said.
To her surprise, hundreds of people expressed interest in coming and shared her post.
"We don't know how many people are going to come, honestly" Matt Moretter said. "I started making cupcakes, and I got two boxes in, and I think I'm going to need to get some more."
Mackenzie Moretter now has a huge party to get ready for.
"This present is from a boy named Sam who thought about me," Mackenzie said.
The guest list has gotten so long that the city has offered the family to host the party at Memorial Park in Shakopee, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday,
The Moretters say people are donating chairs and tents and even offering to cater the party.
"It's going to make her day tomorrow one great birthday," Jenny Moretter said. "I cannot thank everyone enough."
"I think it is going to be great, exciting," Mackenzie said.
If you want to help the Moretters raise $1,000 to cover the cost of the birthday party, you can contribute on their GoFundMe page.
