5-Year-Old Church Shooting Survivor Wants You To Send Him A Christmas Card

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5-Year-Old Church Shooting Survivor Wants You To Send Him A Christmas Card

The family of a little boy who lived through a horrible experience needs your help to give him a merry Christmas this year.

Ryland Ward was one of the youngest survivors of last month's church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Ryland lost his mother and two of his sisters in the attack, and was shot five times - once in the elbow, twice in the stomach, and twice in the leg.

Ward family

The 5-year-old has already been through more surgeries and treatments than most adults to help him recover. He was put on life support machines, including a breathing tube, had a stint placed in his kidney, and needed skin grafts. Ryland will also need to use a wheelchair for months once he's sent home from the hospital.

While his family expected Ryland would be home for Christmas, trouble with the young boy's kidney and shattered femur mean he'll spend the holidays in a hospital bed.

The church in Sutherland Springs was decorated to honor the shooting victims.Bloomberg

Ryland's grandmother, Sandy Ward, reveals that he hasn't even heard the worst news yet. "They still haven't told him yet that his mom and sisters are dead," she explained to KSAT 12, "but I'm sure he's kind of getting some kind of idea because he's 5."

It's clear that this tough little guy could use a Christmas pick-me-up, and his family wants your help to make his holidays merry and bright.

Doctors say that Ryland is still six to eight weeks away from being sent home.

Ward family

While he's stuck in the hospital, his family wants to give Ryland as many Christmas cards as possible, and they're inviting you to send him one.

Ryland likes receiving Christmas cards with photos of other kids and family pets, and his family hopes you'll chip in $1 to help buy him a go-kart for Christmas.

You can send any Christmas cards to this address:

Ryland Ward

P.O. Box 174

Sutherland Springs, Texas, 78161

If you'd prefer, you can help cover Ryland's medical costs by donating to his GoFundMe account here.

Sandy says that despite everything, Ryland is still smiling, and these cards will only make him feel even better.

Share this story so everyone can send Ryland a card!

[H/T: KSAT 12]

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