‘No one showed up at my 5-year-old’s birthday’

A mum has shared her heartbreak after no one showed up to her daughter’s fifth birthday party – before kind strangers rallied to help.

‘No one came to my daughter’s fifth birthday party’. Picture: Instagram.

An American mum has shared her heartbreak after no one showed up to her daughter’s fifth birthday party — before a kind act by strangers turned the day around.

Mum-of-four Lex Fitzgerald had planned a birthday party for her daughter Willa at a local burger restaurant in Keller, Texas this weekend, but it quickly became apparent that no one would show.

The mum detailed her distress in an emotional viral Instagram post.

“As a mum, my heart broke for my little girl as she sat there waiting for her friends to arrive,” Fitzgerald said.

“We had invited her entire class, last year’s class and friends we had made along the way and only 30% had RSVP’d yes.

“We figured a small party would be just as fun but 20 minutes into waiting for friends to arrive, I realised it was possible that no one was going to show up.”

Wondering how she would break the news to poor Willa, who was dressed beautifully in a rainbow birthday crown and a sparkly dress while the stools around her sat empty, Fitzgerald had to think fast.

“I didn’t want to have to tell my little girl that no one was coming to her birthday party,” she said.

“Quickly, I thought to reach out to my local Facebook group and send out a so called ‘bat signal’ of sorts to other families out there.”

American mum Lex Fitzgerald has shared her heartbreak when no one showed at her daughter’s 5th birthday party. Picture: Instagram.

The mum made a post in her local community’s Facebook group, not expecting much from the last-minute invite.

But what happened next turned the heartbreak into a “magical” day for little Willa.

“The response was life changing,” Fitzgerald said.

“Within MINUTES families were showing up ready to share the day with Willa. We went from not a single person at her birthday table to not a single table open at Hat Creek Burgers.

“The entire restaurant was packed with families who refused to let my daughter celebrate alone.”

She sent out a post to her local community group, and dozens of kind strangers rushed to the party. Picture: Instagram.

The restaurant was packed “within minutes”, livening up Willa’s special day. Picture: Instagram.

Fitzgerald sent out a heartfelt thank you to all of the kind strangers who saved the day.

“You not only showed up for my little girl, but for me as well,” she wrote in the post.

“You picked me up and encouraged me forward when I felt like I had failed as a mom.”

Hundreds of people were touched by the emotional message.

“That is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time,” one person wrote.

“I’m so glad your community pulled together and showed up for Willa. What a special memory for her.”

“A village was needed and a village came,” said another.

“Literally crying right now. Happy birthday sweet Willa!!!!!” exclaimed a third.

Fitzgerald sent out a heartfelt thank you to the families who saved the day. Picture: Instagram.

One mum, who was invited to the party but came late, shared her experience of the beautifully unconventional celebration.

“It was sooooo beautiful to see so many people show up today!” the mum wrote.

“I seriously felt my heart swell with such gratitude as no one knew each other but just showed up to celebrate Willa and they kept walking through the door!! Well done Lex! You made it happen!”

Fitzgerald replied: “Thank you SO MUCH for being one of the two families that came to Willa’s party who were previously invited. It means so much to me that you came.”

Originally published as ‘No one showed up at my 5-year-old’s birthday’