A teenager’s overjoyed reaction to a birthday party invitation has gone viral, spreading joy and raising awareness about inclusivity. Macy Avis, a 15-year-old high school freshman with Down syndrome, rarely receives such invitations.
Her mother, Heather Avis, shared on Instagram, “Yesterday Macy got in the car and showed me an invitation to a birthday party for a friend at school who is also in the life skills program. Her joy from this invitation is palpable. WOW! To me it spoke of a longing fulfilled. All I could do was laugh with her and then cry as I celebrated with her.”
Macy Avis can’t hide her happiness after being invited to her first ever birthday party. Photo courtesy of Heather Avis
In the heartwarming video, Macy excitedly waves the invitation for her mother to see. “You got invited to a birthday party?” Heather asks, to which Macy replies with a joyful “Yeah!” and a beaming grin, followed by a happy squeal. Heather shared her emotional reaction, explaining, “You can hear me start to get choked up because my sweet girl is so elated to be included. It speaks to the common humanity that we all share. We all as humans want to feel like we belong. We all want to be wanted.”
Macy’s educational journey has shifted recently. She was previously in a general education setting but transitioned to a life skills program in high school. “As soon as Macy walked into the classroom as a new student, she was instantly embraced,” Heather said.
No one was questioning if she has value and worth. She’s finding a place where she feels belonging and community.”
Heather provided an update a few weeks later, sharing video of Macy after the party. In the video, Macy laughs and claps her hands, expressing pure joy. “What did you tell me when we were there?” Avis asks. Macy responds, “I love it here!” and later adds, “I love birthday parties!”
Heather Avis and her daughter, Macy. Photo courtesy of the Avis family
The birthday boy, a fellow student with an intellectual disability, made the party inclusive by inviting both disabled and non-disabled individuals, Heather said. She highlighted this in her Instagram post, stating, “It was inclusive because people like Macy and the young man we were celebrating, who are often excluded, truly understand how to include others. Let’s reflect on that for a moment!”
Avis hopes Macy’s story will inspire others to embrace inclusivity. “We all have opportunity to be the person to say, ‘I’m going to create a space where everyone can belong,’” she said.
Macy’s viral reaction has touched many viewers. One person commented, “Thank you for sharing this wonderful moment with us! I got goosebumps listening to the glee in Macy’s voice. I am so incredibly happy for her and can’t wait to hear all about the amazing time she’s bound to have!” Another declared, “This is the best thing on the whole internet.”
Heather continues to advocate for her daughter and the Down syndrome community through her organization, The Lucky Few Foundation, and her podcast. The proud mom hopes that Macy will inspire others to embrace those who are left out. “We all have opportunity to be the person to say, ‘I’m going to create a space where everyone can belong,’” she says. Watch below for the amazing video of Macy’s big moment.
