An eight-year-old who was badly burned in a house fire two years ago got a Christmas surprise on 9 December when the Schnectady, New York, postmaster presented her with thousands of cards sent from all over the United States.

Safyre Terry, who bears the scars from the fire that killed her father and three siblings, told a reporter she expected 20 letters from people answering an appeal on Facebook to send her holiday missives. Her aunt Liz Dolder, who put out the call for Christmas cards, said she was overwhelmed by the response.

"It's indescribable, so many people in the world that are coming together for her to give her her wish, her wish," Dolder said.

The postmaster said the letters and cards quickly outgrew Terry's post office box, and he still expects more correspondence.

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