Family of ailing child hoping for thousands of birthday cards for special celebration

As Bubby Everson’s parents plan his 9th birthday celebration, the Puyallup family is faced with the sobering reality it could be the last for the ailing youngster. Rather than showering him with gifts, they’re hoping to give something much simpler: a whole bunch of mail.

“He loves to get mail. He loves junk mail. When I come in with the mail, he’ll look and ask if there’s something for him,” says Bubby’s father Thomas.

So Thomas and his wife are asking people to send Bubby birthday cards, preferably with stickers, for a special birthday celebration they’ll put on this weekend ahead of his birthday Feb. 11.

“We’re going to do a treasure hunt for these birthday cards using pictures and each picture is going to lead to the next and finally to a treasure chest for him,” says Thomas.

It won’t be the usual birthday party, because Bubby isn’t the usual kid. The boy has faced a number of debilitating health issues since he was born.

He contracted a rare virus at birth called Cytomegalovirus or CMV. While usually harmless, in rare cases like Bubby’s, it’s fatal. Unlike other childhood diseases, like cancer, doctor’s have no idea when it will take his life.

“We take every day like it’s the last because, we don’t know when that’s going to be,” says Thomas.

Along with CMV, Bubby has also been diagnosed with a number of other conditions including autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, vision impairment, major sensory issues and allergies. He wears casts on his legs and gets around with the help of a wheelchair.

“We do everything we can to make his life better, more comfortable, help him learn,” says Thomas.

That includes the family’s dream of creating a special “sensory room” for Bubby, where he can go when he’s overwhelmed and needs a safe and secure place to gather himself.

“It’s a place where he can retreat and de-stress,”says Thomas .

The room would include a special hammock-like swing he can crawl into and calm down along with other furniture and special items.

“Unfortunately these sensory items are not cheap. They are expensive,” says Thomas.

The family has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for the sensory room. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had generated $3,620 of the family’s $5,000 goal.

Whether it’s donating to Bubby’s sensory room or sending cards for his birthday, Thomas says he’s been overwhelmed by the number of people who’ve reached out to help.

“I’m very shocked. I mean obviously we hoped there would be some coverage but the way it has developed it has just blown us away. Every little bit helps, every card helps. It’s going to be amazing.”

You can follow Bubby’s journey on a special Facebook page created by his mom here.

If you want to send Bubby a card or letter (preferably with stickers), you can mail him at:

Bubby Everson
PO BOX 1142
Graham, Washington 98338