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Hospital that fixed girl's backwards knees gets huge gift

Jason Wheeler
WFAA-TV, Dallas
Addie Bryan, a 7-year-old who was treated for a rare bone disorder at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, has accomplished her mission to raise money for the hospital.

DALLAS — Last month, we told you the story of 7-year-old Addie Bryan.

Born with a rare bone disorder that contorted her legs and made her knees unable to bend, she received years of extensive free medical help at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. With that — and a lot of determination — the girl who might not have ever walked was off and running.

This summer, she's been dashing down to the corner of her street to raise money to give back. "I just hold a sign that says, 'For my birthday, I want to raise $8,000 for Scottish Rite Hospital,'" she told us in July.

After that, her goal of eight grand got a lot grander. Addie's story was picked up by People magazine's website and even made international headlines. Contributions poured in, and Addie collected a whopping $19,500.

"I thought, 'Wow, that is a lot of money,'" she said.

But that wasn't even the half of it.

Hospital that fixed girls backwards knees gets huge gift

Normally in the hospital setting when something spreads, it's not such a good thing. In this case, though, it was. Addie's fundraising generosity was contagious.

Not long ago, Scottish Rite Hospital Vice President of Development Stephanie Brigger received a letter in the mail with a check.

"I am almost speechless, because I am the one who opened it," she said. "The anonymous donor wrote about seeing Addie and the pictures of her and then seeing her running."

The unnamed sender was so impressed with Addie's gratitude, they added $50,000 in her name. Addie didn't even know it until she presented the check Wednesday afternoon for nearly $70,000; a significant amount for a hospital that relies on charitable gifts.

"That's a lot of casts and a lot of prosthetic devices," Brigger said. "Every little bit and big amounts help us do what we do."

That's exactly what Addie wanted. Although her philanthropic drive garnered a lot of attention, the little girl says this was never about her.

It's was about a place of healing that became her second home, and was about the other kids who still call it home.

"I think all the kids are going to be happy, and they can get out of the hospital faster," Addie said.

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