Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
CENTERVILLE — Hundreds of birthday cards made their way from around the world to young Charlotte Bauer, who recently celebrated her fifth birthday while under hospice care.
Charlotte was diagnosed with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy in 2020, just after turning 2. Her father, Carlos Bauer, said it is a rare genetic disorder that causes his daughter's nervous system to slowly lose its ability to function.
Jenna Bauer, Charlotte's mom, said they grew concerned for their daughter in 2019 when she went from almost walking at 12 months old to not progressing and even losing her balance just months later. Eventually, they were led to see a neurologist concerning the regression and they learned of the terminal illness.
Jenna Bauer's best friend, Katie Wade-Neser of Las Vegas, helped raise money for the Bauer family a couple of years ago when Charlotte needed a medical stroller. Wade-Neser wanted to organize another service for the family, and when she realized this would be Charlotte's last birthday, she wanted her to receive a lifetime of birthday cards.
"I think, especially in this story, it's really easy to just look at the really sad parts of it and I didn't want to miss out on just celebrating Charlotte for who she is," Wade-Neser told KSL.com.
She posted the idea of writing Charlotte a birthday card on her Instagram page "Come Follow Me Toddlers," including birthday wishes and ways the well-wishers had "shined with Charlotte" by performing acts of service. She also reached out to other influencers to help spread the service project on their accounts.
With just two employees at the post office in Mona, Juab Couny, where the P.O. box letters were directed, it was an overwhelming task to receive that many letters and packages. But Wade-Neser said when her mother would pick up the mail at the post office, the employees were so excited and would yell out the number of letters and packages that came that day for Charlotte.
There were letters from at least 30 states and four different countries — including 102 individual letters, 31 packages and seven very large packages. The packages included a large number of individual letters inside them, according to Wade-Neser.
When Charlotte turned 5 on May 23, Wade-Neser's sister delivered the birthday greetings to the Bauer family.
"It was … overwhelming to see how many people went out of their way to send something," Carlos Bauer said.
The Bauers estimate there were thousands of letters in the packages.
Jenna Bauer said it will take weeks to open the letters. Charlotte's siblings want to be present for all the cards, so they wait until the whole family is together before they open their daily haul.
Though Charlotte is nonverbal, her mother said the excitement is visible in her young eyes when they read the cards out loud.
"We read every letter to her and she makes her happy sounds and smiles and … you can tell she really really loves — and can feel — the outpouring of love. It really touches her and touches all of us," Jenna Bauer said.
One of Jenna Bauer's favorite parts about the cards is when people shared ways they've done service and "shined with Charlotte." Some acts were simple, but she finds them sweet — like one from a tired parent who wanted to lay down and rest, but upon remembering Charlotte, chose to fly a kite with their child instead.
She just loves people for being who they are, and I think, in that way, she's always shining.
– Jenna Bauer
"It's been really special to see how much Charlotte has touched our own lives and changed our own hearts and then to see the influence she has had on so many others," Jenna Bauer said. "And we have been changed by everyone who has reached out in love to us because of Charlotte. It's just been an amazing thing to witness."
She said Charlotte "shines" because of the way she loves everyone.
"She doesn't put a guard up. She doesn't judge others. People don't have to look a certain way or do anything specific, at all. She just loves people for being who they are, and I think, in that way, she's always shining."
