Young New York arson victim shares her Christmas bounty

ROTTERDAM, New York // An eight-year-old girl who lost her father and younger siblings in an arson fire that left her severely scarred is sharing the good cheer that has been bestowed on her since her simple Christmas wish went viral.

Safyre Terry, of Rotterdam, New York, has received more than a million cards from around the world since a family friend shared a Facebook post with the little girl’s wish for cards to fill a display tree. Over the holidays, Safyre and some of the volunteers who have been helping her since the devastating fire two years ago plan to visit shelters to distribute some of the gifts Safyre has received, as well as some new ones to children who are homeless or victims of domestic violence, said Liz Dolder, the girl’s aunt.

“We want other children to feel the joy that Safyre feels,” said Ms Dolder, sister of David Terry, who died shielding his oldest daughter from the flames and heat that killed her three younger siblings in 2013.

In a Facebook video Safyre triumphantly lifts a cup with a 3D-printed prosthetic hand made for her by students at the University at Albany. Ms Dolder asks, “Who can do it?” and Safyre shouts, “I can!”

It’s a frequent call and response between Ms Dolder and her niece, a spunky girl with a ponytail and glitter-spangled sneakers who shows no trace of self-consciousness about her scars and tracheal tube as she greets well-wishers at holiday events.

Ms Dolder said more than a million cards and thousands of packages have arrived at the family’s home on a rural road 15 miles west of Albany.

The gifts include a yen-filled card from Japan, a stuffed koala and boomerang from Australia, anime toys from France, German newspaper clippings of Safyre’s story, framed calligraphy from China, and countless cards, many handmade by children, from every US state and many distant lands.

While she’s thrilled with all the gifts, Safyre plans to give many away, Ms Dolder said.

“She’s a very big sharer,” she said. “She’s just very kind and generous and sweet.”

* Associated Press