She just wanted a few people to send her ill son some birthday cards to lift his spirits. But she did not expect what came next.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on September 18, 2019. It has since been updated.
Knowing there is no way to ease the agony of her child isn't something any mother should have to deal with. It's never easy for a mother to watch the child she bore suffer from a disease that has no cure. But there is no length she wouldn't cross to make her child happy and that is what this mother did.
The mother Tanya Williams, of Lancashire, United Kingdom whose son, Rhys, 13, is suffering from a rare disease called Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB), had shared with her his feelings about going through such a trauma. DEB is part of a group of rare diseases that causes fragile, blistering skin. The blistering can be caused by mere rubbing or scratching.
She told SWNS, according to Fox News, "The last few months, he’s had enough of life. He’s had enough of being in pain with the sores. He just wants to give up, he doesn’t want to fight anymore. What do you do, as a mum?"
Tanya knew she had to do something to cheer him up. So before Rhys' 14th birthday happening this month, she requested people to send him cards as a way to cheer him up. According to the Sun, she posted saying, "He's such a happy boy most of the time but recently it's a struggle to try and get through to him. I don't think he can fight much longer, his life depends on this. Rhys' life revolves around school, Xbox, sleep, repeat. He doesn't want to go out because he doesn't like the way people look at him. I don't want him to be in pain anymore but I still want him to be here."
So, when the responses came, they were shocked. The family received over 3,000 cards from people all across the globe who wished Rhys well. Soon enough, Tanya sent an update across stating that Rhys was "in his element" while he and his best friend sat down to open and read every single card.
Thousands send cards to teen with rare skin disease after mom's plea goes viral https://t.co/6aTUus6HoD pic.twitter.com/Xk0achzJpF
— Web Design and SEO (@Webdesign097) September 13, 2019
"It’s just been crazy. A post van came today with stuff for Rhys, it’s just been mad. I’ve had thousands of messages on Facebook , people turning up at the door. I don’t know whether I’m coming or going, but Rhys is in his element. He’s at home opening the cards with his best friend. He is absolutely loving it. He is opening each card and reading it, and he’s got his friend opening them too. He is taking his time with each one which is why it is taking so long. He’s just so overwhelmed with it," she said reported the Daily Mail.
According to the Sun, Tanya mentioned just how happy Rhys was with what he got. "Every single card he received, he opened them with so much joy. He came home from school and he would see these Christmas cards. He got hundreds at a time. It showed him that he still needs to fight, that there's people out there who do care and do love him. Hopefully, it can make him see that not everything is bad."
And she shared how viral his story had gone. She said, according to the Daily Mail, "It’s gone world wide. He’s been on telly in Chile. He got a card from Qatar today, and loads from America. It’s just gone everywhere. I just want to say thank you. That’s all I can really say at the moment, I’m so overwhelmed by it all. He’s sitting at home opening cards with his best friend and he is really, really happy."
References:
https://www.foxnews.com/health/mom-birthday-cards-son-rare-skin-disorder
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9864436/mums-heartbreaking-birthday-card-wheelchair-bound-son/
