Strangers came to her rescue when Cami, who has autism, outgrew her favorite “comfort” shirt!
Some kids find comfort in a teddy bear; others in a “blankie.” Ten-year-old Cami Skouson, who has autism, found hers in a beloved pink flower shirt. But with no replacement available, her mom wondered what they would do…
Deborah Skouson watched through the kitchen window as her daughter, Cami, bounced on the backyard trampoline.
“My pink flower shirt?” Cami asked the moment she ran inside.
“It’s still in the dryer,” the St. George, Utah, mom replied, bracing for tears.
Cami has autism. For her, routine is exceedingly important; otherwise, the world seems far too loud and chaotic. And when she feels overwhelmed, she suffers a “meltdown.” So when possible, Deborah lets Cami choose what she’d like to do and wear.
The shirt felt like a comforting hug, a refuge
“This!” Cami said, smiling as she chose a bright pink top sprinkled with flowers for her first day of kindergarten. She held it to her heart, dancing around. And soon, she was asking to wear it every day and sometimes even to bed.
“I think that shirt felt like a comforting hug, a refuge—a constant when things were changing or just felt like too much,” Deborah explains.
So she washed Cami’s “pink flower shirt” every day. But it struck her: What would she do when Cami outgrew it?
So Deborah headed to Target to stock up, but was told the shirt had been discontinued.
Trying not to panic, Deborah went online to a local yard sale site and was relieved to find one in the next size up.
But before long Cami had another growth spurt and Deborah had to search ebay for another one.
Now 10, Cami had gone through four pink flower shirts—and there didn’t seem to be any more to be found. So Deborah kept stitching each new hole and tried buying others in the same brand or with similar patterns.
“That’s not my shirt!” Cami would cry, tears streaming.
Desperate, Deborah turned to Facebook. Okay, friends and family, I need your help! This shirt is a Circo brand from Target, sold in 2011-2012, she posted, with a photo of Cami in her beloved top.
Just a half-hour later, Deborah received a message: Is this it? a friend asked after doing an ebay search using different words than she had.
Yes! Thank you! It’s even her size! Deborah rejoiced, clicking “Buy Now.” And the kindness didn’t end there.
I have that shirt! My daughter outgrew it but it’s still in good shape, a friend of a friend messaged. And when Deborah offered to buy the shirt and pay postage, the woman refused. Knowing how happy this will make Cami is reward enough!
I shared your post from Indi- ana to Washington to Texas to the East Coast, another posted. And soon, moms everywhere were sending shirts—and not a single one accepted payment! I can’t thank you enough! Deborah typed in gratitude. As each shirt arrived, Cami buried her nose in the familiar soft fabric, murmuring, “My pink flower shirt!” Eventually, more than 120 shirts arrived! “They’re from people who love you and never want you to run out,” Deborah explained. And that wasn’t all: When a Target executive spotted Deborah’s post, she consulted the company’s design team, who dug up some leftover fabric and stitched five shirts in adult sizes so Cami will have them for a long time to come. Kind folks even created keepsakes, including a teddy bear and quilt made from Cami’s old shirts. “These gifts for Cami have proven that people are inherently good and kind,” Deborah beams. “I’m so touched that my little girl has brought that out for the whole world to see!”
“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.” Brian Tracy