When Addie was born, her mom, Julie Bryan, had no idea that she was going to be born with Larsen Syndrome, a condition that would result in Addie spending days in the hospital having multiple surgeries.

Addie was born with a club foot and her legs essentially on backwards. She was fitted with her first cast at just five days old. The years to come would lead to 60 or 70 more casts and four more additional surgeries.

Although Addie can’t bend her knees, the little girl that was born not knowing if she’d ever be able to walk can now run and play with other kids. It if wouldn’t have been for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Addie’s life might have turned out much different.

Addie’s family couldn’t afford the expensive medical treatments that she needed to improve her condition. Thanks to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Addie’s treatments were free and the bleak outlook for her was turned around by the generosity of the hospital.

So on Addie’s 8th birthday, she decided she wanted to repay the favor to the hospital that had done so much to help her. She was determined to raise $8,000 for the hospital that helped her legs and stood on a corner near her home in Rockwell, Texas, with a big homemade sign that asked for donations to help her make her birthday wish come true.

Addie’s story quickly spread to local media, and eventually around the world. She received an amazing $19,500 in donations, but the generosity that had started with the birthday wish of one eight year old little girl didn’t stop there.

An anonymous donor heard about Addie’s story and wrote a letter to the hospital. They were moved by Addie’s story and wanted to help the hospital that had done so much for her. Included with the letter was a donation on Addie’s behalf in the amount of $50,000, bringing Addie’s grand total raised to a whopping $69,500!

The hospital relies on charitable gifts to operate and give children the casts, prosthetics, and surgeries that they desperately need. Addie’s donation was going to provide plenty of that! Addie says the gift was never meant to be about her, just a way to give back to the hospital that had been like a second home to her.