Cards For Donya: Will You Help?

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Last night I received an e-mail from a friend about a precious lady named Donya who attends church with her. Donya has Down’s Syndrome and her 50th birthday is coming up on August 18th.

I’ve been so touched by this woman’s story, that I must share it with you.  And I’m asking you to help me make precious Donya’s 50th birthday the best of her life!

Donya is no ordinary almost-50 year old.  Read what her mother says about her…

When Donya was diagnosed with Down’s Syndrome, we were told she would never walk, never talk, never be toilet trained. We were told she would not live more than 20 years. We were told to put her in an institution and forget her because we had three children who shouldn’t be burdened with her presence. Fifty years ago retarded children were hidden in attics and cellars and dismal institutions. We couldn’t do that to our precious child. Because of Donya and the parents of other children like her, education and services are now provided for many of our handicapped people.

Today, Donya is able to do everything for herself. She does her own cooking, cleaning and washing clothes. She gets up every morning and gets ready to go to work at a sheltered workshop. She makes about $25 a week and can’t wait to cash that big check and do a little shopping. She understands money and likes to save it.

She loves going to Sunday school and church every Sunday with her brother and his wife. She truly understands the joy of God. She loves shopping for clothes with another brother and his wife. Donya’s third brother and his wife, are planning a slide show of her life to show at her birthday party this year. She loves her brothers and all the rest of our family. She has never been the burden we were told she would be. We have been blessed by her presence.

Over the last two years, Donya has lost 40 pounds on Nutrisystem. She walks a half mile every day (one way) to our mail box, rain or shine, with her dog, Boots. She is obsessed with the mail and so happy when something is addressed to her.

I sent an e-mail out when Donya was 40 asking friends to share it with everyone they knew. Donya received over 1,000 cards from the states and 11 foreign countries. It took hours to read every word on every card for two weeks until her birthday. And she knew if I tried to skip a word! I promised her we would do it again when she was 50. This is the year and I’m asking you please to do it again for Donya.

How amazing!  What an incredible woman!!

What can you do?  How to get involved:

  • Leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address.  I will be sending out Donya’s address via e-mail to protect her privacy.
  • Send a card to arrive on or before August 18th!
  • Tweet: “Send a card to Donya who has Down’s Syndrome and turns 50 years old on 8/18!  http://bit.ly/cHrioG #cards4donya”
  • Blog about Cards For Donya and link back to this post for readers to get involved!

Thank you for helping make this a beautiful, wonderful birthday for Donya!

152 Comments

  8. Count me in! My dad has a cousin his age who had the same list of “nevers” as Donya. Her parents were told to institutionalize her. My great aunt refused the drs advice and raised her just like her other children. When the time came for school and there were no options in her rural community 60 years ago, my aunt started a school for the disabled. It is still running today although taken over by the community now. She is still alive and well and loves receiving mail too. I would love to send Donya a card!

    Reply

  23. I would love to send her a card. We have a very close friends who have a little girl who is 3 who has downs. Now days instead of putting these kids in instutions they are now aborted. 9 out of 10 downs babies are aborted. The gift that these people are to their families is something that should treasured.

    🙂 Michelle

    Reply

  55. I’d love to join! We have three boys and are in the adoption process of our own DS daughter named Darya. Me email address is mefick (at) gmail dot com

    Reply

  64. Please send me Donya’s address – my family would like to send a card. I’m blogging so my readers can too. Thanks for doing this opportunity!

    Reply

  67. please send me a snail mail address…..I would so love to send a “real” card to Donya!
    Thanks. And God bless this wonderful family.

    Reply

  80. I will send her a card, please let me know the address. It might be a bit late because I am in Australia.

    Reply

  81. Would love to send birthday greetings all the way from Alaska! It is my 50th birthday this year as well.

    Reply

  84. Would love to send Donya a card. I just lost a 38 yo cousin who had Downs and feel this is a way to remember him as well!! Thanks for doing this for a sweet lady.

    Reply

  86. My kids would LOVE making a card for Donya and we’ll send it with our love and admiration! Thanks!!!

    Reply

  91. How sweet is this. I have a precious friend with Downs Syndrome and I am SO blessed to be her friend. I have learned so much about life from this sweet girl with an extra special chromosome. I would love to send a birthday card to Donya. Please send me her address. My email is KEGorski01 [at] yahoo [dot] com
    Katie´s last blog post ..Monday Randoms

    Reply

  110. We would love to send a card! My daughter, Kelly, is 17 and just happens to have Down Syndrome. We are thankful for all those who have paved the way for Kelly to lead such an amazing life!

    Reply

  125. I am in Australia so I know the card will be late but it will make the fun last a bit longer.

    Reply

  140. The story of Donya just touched my heart. I would love to be able to send her a card to celebrate!!! Wow……..turning 50………what a big deal………and what a miracle and blessing her life has been!! Thanks for letting us be part of this special day in her life. Please send me her address if you would.

    Thanks, Kay

    Reply

  143. I would love to send her a card. As a mom of a special needs child who was give the same grim outcome for my son, I think its awesome that this wonderful lady is turning 50.

    Reply

  146. I read everyone of your posts . If i cant get to it that day I leave them in my mail until I can catch up. I regreat I missed this one. If you wouldnt mind still sending the add I would still like to send her a card. maybe it was meant to be that I am late since she assumes her filled mailbox is over now that its past her birthday. hopefully a late surprise will be nice. Better late than never..I hope. Thank You, Patricia

    Reply

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