MANSFIELD — Bucyrus native and Mansfield resident Stacy Reppart-Davis wanted to make her son’s 18th birthday special and memorable for him.

Reppart-Davis created a Facebook post with a photo of Jackson that read, “Hey friends! On Saturday, this guy turns 18!!!! As a mom, I’m really struggling with this. Due to his Autism, Jackson doesn’t really have any friends, so a big birthday party with friends isn’t really an option for him and it breaks my heart. I’d like to do something memorable for him, so I’m asking for your help! If you could be so kind as to send him a birthday card, It would really make his day, and this mom would be grateful.”

She included her family’s address so her friends could send cards but there was one thing she had not counted on: her friends wanted to share the post.

“In my mind, I was hoping to get about 20 cards. Some friends asked me to make my post shareable, so I did,” Reppart-Davis said. “My friends shared, and their friends shared, and my original post ended up being shared over 1,200 times. I was shocked and overwhelmed by the outcome. I have people I’ve never met in my life messaging me and wanting to send gifts too.”

The cards started coming in last Wednesday, three days before Jackson’s birthday on Saturday, July 27.

“He got four that day. Thursday, he got 18, Friday 89, Saturday 141, Monday 130,” Reppart-Davis said.

And the cards and gifts still are coming.

“From all my friends sharing, we had comments on my post from the United Kingdom, Canada, England, Scotland, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain, France and India,” Reppart-Davis said. “It’s the best feeling ever knowing that there were people all around the world thinking about and sending love to my boy. My heart is so full of gratitude to everyone who sent a card, everyone who made a comment on my post and everyone who sent a gift. We’ve received cards from the east coast to the west coast and also Hawaii.”

On Monday, Jackson received his first international cards from England and Ireland. On Tuesday, he received some from Canada.

“I have an Ohio map, a U.S. map and a world map. Once the card delivery starts slowing down, we will start plotting on the map where all his birthday love has come from. I thought this would be a fun, educational activity for him,” Reppart-Davis said.

Jackson’s dad, Bob Davis, also grew up in Bucyrus and said his son always has been the center of the universe for his family, which also includes son, Jake.

“I’m very humbled by the outpouring of selfless and unconditional love that has been bestowed upon him,” Bob Davis said. “My faith in humanity has been restored.”

Jackson’s response has been pretty positive, but Stacy said he has needed to take breaks between opening the overwhelming number of gifts and cards.

“He doesn’t really have one favorite gift in particular,” Reppart-Davis said. “If he’s in his room, he is usually sitting on his bed drawing with his new art pencils in his new sketchbooks and he’s surrounded with all the Buzz and Woody Toys.”

Two special packages arrived from the same anonymous person.

“He received two special packages. One was from Woody and one was from Buzz Lightyear. All I know about the sender is that they are from Bucyrus. I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to whoever sent them,” Reppart-Davis said.

She said he also is enjoying all of the snacks he has received.

“I’m just so overjoyed about all of this love,” Reppart-Davis said. “A mother wants nothing more than for her child to have a happy birthday. With the help of my friends, Jackson has had the happiest birthday ever.”

Reppart-Davis started a Facebook page for Jackson to post all of the photos she has taken with his many cards and gifts.

Cards can be sent to Jackson Davis, 672 South Main St., Mansfield, Ohio 44907.