I wouldn't respond with anything more than "thanks."
What did he do for your birthday? If he did nothing, do nothing. The most I would do is a text that says HB if you feel compelled to do something. But again, if he ignored yours, I would do nothing.
I think we all go through the sorry for them stage. I had a counselor at the beginning who said you may think his life is pathetic, but at least he's living a life. All you do is think about his life.
If you read DB or DR, better for him to think he is forgotten. In my case, that is what it took to see an improvement in behavior.
