Orphaned Fire Survivor Sa'fyre Receives Million Christmas Cards in New York, Called 'Special Gift from the Lord'

Julie Brown Patton : Dec 28, 2015
Gospel Herald

"I think Sa'fyre is a special gift from our Lord to show us the way to open our hearts again and care for others. Thank you Sa'fyre for doing this..."

One of the largest and most significant examples of the true meaning of Christmas during 2015 will be counted as the number of Christmas cards sent to an 8-year-old orphaned fire survivor who simply requested enough cards to fill up a medium-sized, metal tree-shaped card holder bought by her aunt at a thrift store. After Sa'fyre Terry's hope for cards went viral, thanks to a family friend, she received thousands of cards, and gifts from kind strangers keep pouring in to her Schenectady, New York home. (Photo via Gospel Herald)

When Sa'fyre was just 5 years old, an arsonist set fire to her family's apartment stairwell. Sa'fyre was the only one who survived the fire among her father and three siblings, however her foot and hand were eventually amputated, and she lost skin on her face. Now her face has lit up the lives of people around the world.

"I think Sa'fyre is a special gift from our Lord to show us the way to open our hearts again and care for others. Thank you Sa'fyre for doing this," stated one Facebook friend Linda Mathews on Christmas day. "I love your beautiful smile. Seeing it always brightens my day. And God Bless your aunt, uncle and cousins for being right there by your side through it all."

Tracking Sa'fyre's request for cards started for The Gospel Herald readers with a Dec. 10 article. Read "Help Orphaned Fire Survivor Fulfill Wish of Getting Christmas Cards from Around World, Aunt Says God Saved Sa'fyre for a Reason." She's now received more than a million cards, according to the Associated Press.

The nonprofit Baking Memories 4 Kids is sending Sa'fyre to the Disney theme parks in Florida in March, and more than $400,000 has been donated through a crowdfunding website for her medical expenses.

She also received more gifts than one youngster could ever handle, so she, in turn, shared her Christmas cheer with other needy families. Thursday morning on Christmas Eve, Sa'fyre with her aunt and uncle, Liz and Mike Dolder, packed their cars with gifts to donate to The Salvation Army Booth Home in Schenectady on Lafayette Street, reports the Daily Gazette.

Sa'fyre and some of the volunteers who helped her since the devastating fire two years ago plan to...

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