A girl who lost her mother to cancer received only one confirmation for her birthday party: several strangers joined to help her celebrate

An 8-year-old girl only received an RSVP for her birthday party, her sister posted online on TIkTok about her frustrations, and lots of strangers came to celebrate. (CNN) – After losing her mother to brain cancer in April, a Tennessee woman wanted her younger sister’s birthday to be special. But after only one person responded to her invitation to the party, strangers stepped in to show her support. Chloe Sexton, 28, and Charlotte Sexton, 8, lost their mother, Jennifer, on April 12 after battling brain cancer for 11 years, Chloe told CNN on Saturday. Chloe is now Charlotte’s legal guardian. “I sent out the invites early and didn’t hear anything except from one person,” Chloe said. “It bothered me that she couldn’t give him the birthday that she wanted.” Charlotte had to transfer to a new school in the middle of the school year after losing her mother. Her new classmates and her parents were aware of her mother’s death, according to Chloe. So that’s when Chloe took to TikTok to vent her frustrations. That video had more than 9 million views and more than 30,000 comments as of Saturday. Jennifer, Chloe and Charlotte Sexton seen in an undated photo. Chloe said her comments and her inbox began to fill up with messages from people offering to help decorate, come to the party and asking what gift to bring Charlotte. “This was the first time I saw people put action behind her empathy,” Chloe commented. “The overwhelming support made me feel not just like a face online, but that I mattered and my story mattered to people.” On July 9, Chloe was able to surprise Charlotte with guests, balloons, gifts, and more, thanks to the help of strangers. Some women helped decorate the house and set up a balloon display and another brought her own horse from Oxford, Mississippi, to give the children pony rides at the party. Throughout the day people passed by, even if it was only for 30 minutes, from many parts. At one point there were about 20 children in the house, Chloe said. A group called Mid South Jeeps also put on a parade for Charlotte. About 25-30 jeeps passed by her home in Memphis, some delivering gifts through the window and others listening to birthday music blaring. “The overwhelming support made me feel not just like a face online, but that I mattered and my story mattered to people,” Chloe Sexton told CNN. “I kept asking myself ‘Is this it for me?'” Chloe said. “There was so much emotion, his eyes were so big.” Not only was it her first birthday without her mother, but it was her first birthday party, Chloe claimed. Charlotte had never had a party like this as her mother battled cancer for most of her life. “Charlotte told me ‘I think mom would have loved today’ after she was done for the day,” Chloe said.