Imagine if you had to cancel your kid's birthday party because no was going to show up.
A mom in Minnesota almost had to do that last week after no one RSVP'd for her daughter's 10th birthday.
For the first nine years of her life, MacKenzie Moretter had been surrounded by family members for her birthday, but for her 10th birthday, she decided she wanted to have a party with friends. The only problem with the plan was that MacKenzie didn't really have any friends.
According to MacKenzie's dad, Matthew, the reason MacKenzie has trouble making friends is because she has Sotos Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder she was diagnosed with when she was one.
"It causes gigantism where kids grow at a faster pace. So Mackenzie is a lot taller than other classmates," Mathew told KARE11.com in Minnesota. "Kids are friendly to her, but she doesn't have friends. No one calls and talks to her. I'll show up at her school and she will be playing alone."
After MacKenzie's mom, Jenny, sent out 10 invitations for MacKenzie's party and got no replies, things were looking dire for her daugher's 10th birthday party.
"My wife was crying; her heart was breaking all week long," Matt told Bleacher Report. "Her daughter wants a birthday party, and we don't know how we're going to make it happen. So on Friday morning, [Jenny] put out this plea. It was an appeal to some moms out there, and dads, that have kids and maybe have some time to play with her."
That plea came in the form of a Facebook page, where Jenny invited anyone and everyone -- She just wanted to make sure her daughter had a real birthday.
"[MacKenzie] is incredibly loving and wants more than anything to have friends," Jenny wrote on the Facebook page. "You don't have to bring gifts or stay long... Thank you all for reading a mother's wish!"
Soon after the page was set up, it went viral and before Jenny knew it, her daughter was getting ready to beat out Adrian Peterson for Minnesota's biggest birthday party of 2015.
By the time the birthday party rolled around on April 18 -- just one day after the Facebook plea went out -- over 200 people showed up to a local park to help celebrate MacKenzie's birthday.
The group that showed up included Vikings wide receiver Charles Johnson and Bills tight end MarQueis Gray.
Both players heard about MacKenzie's party from their wives, who both read about the party on Facebook.
Johnson brought his family to MacKenzie's birthday and even showed up with presents.
I was blessed and honored to meet and help celebrate Mackenzie Moretter birthday today! Thank u so much for having us pic.twitter.com/6iY2PnpQEx
— Charles Johnson (@MrInkredibleXII) April 18, 2015
"[Johnson] showed up early and stayed with his family for a couple of hours," Mackenzie's dad told Bleacher Report. "He played, danced, played with bubbles -- like everyone else there. He brought her a present, toys, a pink Charles Johnson jersey with his name and number on the back, and pink shoes that matched. She wore it to school Monday."
Even a @Vikings player & adorable family came to the party :-) Thank you Charles Johnson! #HappyBirthdayMackenzie pic.twitter.com/fla5o5tHvx
— Lanae (@SocialNetNanny) April 18, 2015
As for Gray, he definitely seemed to be enjoying himself at the party. At one point, the former University of Minnesota star even encouraged other people to show up.
Come out and support Mackenzie at her 10th bday party at Shakopee Park!! pic.twitter.com/pvfaPUgnyJ
— MarQueis Gray (@MarQueisG) April 18, 2015
Other people did show up and they even donated things.
A local restaurant donated food for everyone to eat. Another place donated the drinks, a local DJ showed up to donate his time and the Mayor of Shakopee even declared it "MacKenzie Moretter Day."
As for MacKenzie, she was grateful for everything that happened.
"I have a hard time making friends in school, but thanks to all of you, my voice was heard," Mackenzie told the crowd. "I love you all."
