HOW COULD THEY?
In May 2013, the stairwell to David Terry’s apartment was set alight. Tragically, David and three of his children, Layah, three, Michael, two, and Donovan, 11 months, were killed.
But by some miracle, Safyre, five, was found alive encircled in her father’s arms. Suffering severe burns to 75 per cent of her body, Safyre wasn’t expected to survive but the courageous
little girl pulled through.
With her mother, Jennica Duell, jailed for 11 years for perjury in relation to the arson, Safyre was adopted by her aunt, David’s sister, Liz Dolden.
In 2015, after more than 50 surgeries and having both a foot and hand amputated, Safyre was in need of a little Christmas cheer.
Liz posted on Facebook asking if friends and extended family could send Safyre Christmas cards to fill the card tree they’d bought. After the post was shared around the world, thousands of cards began arriving.
Soon a warehouse and hundreds of volunteers were needed to help sort through them, many of which contained cash or gift cards to help make Safyre’s Christmas a bit brighter.
Then, the unthinkable happened.
Volunteer Kim Bradford
was charged with stealing from Safyre.
Police found Christmas cards and letters addressed to Safyre in Kim’s bin, and she was in possession of over $1700 worth of cash and gift cards.
The incident sent shockwaves around the world. Safyre’s supporters rallied. In all, more than two million Christmas cards, and cash and gift cards totalling more than $550,000, were received.
Liz believes that generosity far outshines any negativity.
‘It’s so overwhelming,’ she said tearfully.