Boy with autism only has 1 kid RSVP to party so teen football players show up to celebrate

Christian Larsen, an autistic child, sent invitations to his classmates in school days before his ninth birthday in June 2019.

His mom, Lindsay Barrus Larsen, waited for RSVPs but only got one yes from a girl in Christian’s class. They waited for more RSVPs, but still no yeses or noes from the invited.

Christian Larsen and his birthday cake
Facebook

Lindsay knew that many people just don’t RSVP and hoped that was all that was going on, but a school year picnic revealed that there might be something more to the lack of responses to the invitations.

Christian was saying goodbye at the picnic to his classmates, and he asked his classmates to RSVP to his party. One girl said, “Okay,” while the others didn’t respond to him at all. One kid said “No,” and another replied, “Maybe.” Sadly, the parents didn’t acknowledge Christian either.

Lindsay, heartbroken for her son posted about the experience on Facebook.

Christian Larsen during his ninth birthday
Facebook

“At first I was just hoping that with the end of the year chaos, that the invitations were overlooked,” she wrote. “But, after seeing the personal interactions, I’m thinking maybe there is more. The hardest thing, is I do understand.”

“It can be uncomfortable to try to be a friend with someone who has had outbursts and cried in class,” she continued. “It’s hard when maybe you tried at the start of the year, and he kept wandering off in the middle of the game.”

Lindsay didn’t make any requests about her son’s birthday in the post and said she was planning activities for Christian and the one friend who said she was coming.

Blythe Ben Dan-David, her friend, saw the posting and felt that Christian deserved better. She lives in South Texas—far from the Larsens in Meridian, Idaho—so she couldn’t be there for the party, but there’s one way she could help make Christian’s birthday special.

Christian Larsen high-fiving the football players
Facebook

Blythe reached for Dan Holtry, a close family friend and the football coach at Nampa High School (Idaho) to ask if he could be of assistance.

“He has always been a great guy, a genuine guy with a big heart,” Blythe described Dan in an email to CNN. “I knew if anyone could help it would be Dan.”

The coach then texted his team to let them know about Christian’s science-themed party and the lack of response to his birthday invitations.

“The kids, before I could finish the text — it felt like — they were like, ‘Coach, We’re in,’” Dan told KTVB. “I was amazed at how much they wanted to participate in this and take care of Christian.”

Dan got in touch Lindsay and they agreed to have the team visit.

The football team and kids singing Christian Larsen a happy birthday
Facebook

On June 4, Christian’s birthday, a few classmates, some neighborhood children, and some family friends showed up. Lindsay shared a Facebook video showing that the surprise guests arrived while the birthday boy was playing outside with other children.

Dan and the football team—all donning their uniforms—emerged on the patio while chanting Christian’s name.

The boy, visibly shocked, fell to the floor pretending to pass out as he saw the others.

The young athletes arrived with gifts for the celebrant.

Christian Larsen with the football team who surprised him on his ninth birthday
Facebook

“It was just an opportunity to take care of a guy that was going through adversity, and we’re blessed here at Nampa High School,” Dan said. “We have a lot of great kids. We know about adversity and we have our fair share, and we know how to fight through it.”

The coach and his players stayed on the spot until the very end. The young men played with Christian, sang him a happy birthday, then watched him open presents. The children even asked for the athletes’ autographs.

“I have lots of best days in my life, and this might be one of them!” Christian told KTVB.

Kudos to this kindhearted coach and his football team for making this sweet boy’s ninth birthday one of the most memorable!

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