Merry Christmas Noah!
9 11 2009No politics this time. Just one of those stories that really puts things into perspective.
Christmas came early for Noah Biorkman this year, but under sad circumstances. Noah has terminal cancer, and may not make it to December 25, so his family decided to celebrate last weekend. He didn’t want toys or the normal things a 5-year old wants for Christmas because he can’t play with them. What he wants is to get more Christmas cards than anyone has ever gotten. A local radio station heard the story:
Five year-old Noah Biorkman is in hospice and we need your help to make this the best Christmas ever by sending him Christmas cards!
Noah was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in February 2007. He went into remission in August 2007. In September 2008, Noah relapsed with lesions in his right arm and right leg. After going through six different trials, the cancer continues to spread. Noah is an angel and we are blessed to have him in our lives.
Emails have been circulating, and there is also a Facebook page telling Noah’s story. Do not send money or gifts – just a signed Christmas card. Please send your card right away so that it arrives as soon as possible.
Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon Mi 48178
Thanks to all who can help this little guy get his Christmas wish.
[h/t - Zyxomamma]
UPDATE from Noah’s Mom:
Hello Everyone!
What a week! Scott and I have had a hard time wrapping our brain around how much support and compassion we have received from people all around the world!!! Noah was the 17th most googled topic on Thursday and 12th on Friday!! Unbelievable!!!!!!!
Thank you to everyone for the support! Thank you to everyone that listened to my requests for peace. Thank you to Mindy for setting up security for my front door today!! Thank you to the South Lyon Police, Fire, and Post Office for the help and support over the past week. Today was the first day that I could relax. We had a person sitting out front guarding the door. My family and I didn’t have to worry about whether the person walking up was going to knock or ring the doorbell. Yes, I do have a sign on the door.
I just wanted to note something interesting. Last Saturday, I posted a little note on this carepage — it said that we were celebrating Christmas this week. If you would like to send Noah a card, send me an email and I will give you my address!! Our friends and family have repeatedly asked us for something to do to help. Asking for a Christmas card was something simple that many people could do. They posted it on Facebook and BAMMMMM!!!!!!! Next thing I know, we are receiving thousands of cards and packages. Tuesday — 64, Wednesday — 416, Thursday — 2,600, Friday — 5,100 and Saturday — ??????? At least 10,000. Yes, you read that right — at least 10,000.
We are opening and reading each and every card. This is taking some time. It is just humbling, shocking, incredible, astounding… the outpouring of love for one sick little boy.
Friday night, Noah loved meeting Santa. ……
Today was a very merry Christmas! Noah, my mom, and I woke to a Christmas tree in our front yard, fully decorated with wrapped presents underneath. Noah thought that was the coolest thing. Again — the smile said it all. He spent most of the day in my bedroom. No shocker there! He was stingy with his happy face today. He slept quite a bit and he seems to be hurting again.
…….
No matter how hard this is or how painful it is, Scott, my family, and I can say one thing — Noah had Christmas today. And for that, I am grateful.
Merry Christmas Everyone! The world helped make it special for Noah, my family, Scott, and myself. I can guarantee one thing — This week was a week that none of us will ever forget.”
[h/t Karla]
November 9th, 2009 at 6:39 AM
Oh bless his heart. Card will be mailed soon.Also I will pass this on to all in my email list.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:46 AM
Well doesn’t that just put the day in to perspective. Wow.
Card going out today. Just happen to have stamps, which is almost never the case.
Will send this out to my lists. Thanks.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:50 AM
I will pass this on to all on my email list. You are right BuffaloGal, it does put things into perspective.
November 9th, 2009 at 6:56 AM
on it’s way
November 9th, 2009 at 7:05 AM
It’s in the mail. This is why my family contributes several times a year to the St. Jude Childrens Hospital. In fact, the next contribution will be in Noah’s name. So sad.
Love ya Noah; Rich & Annette
November 9th, 2009 at 7:06 AM
Sent to all my e-mail list. Could not copy his sweet picture to forward along. Guess I don’t know what I am doing. At least the message was sent.
November 9th, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Card mailed, info passed around. Wow. Hope he gets a bazillion of them!
November 9th, 2009 at 7:12 AM
He looks like my 6 year old son
I’ll get a card in the mail to him today.
November 9th, 2009 at 7:35 AM
Sent to all on my email list and also sent to our friend Lone Star Santa (google him and check out the photos of Santa and Mrs Claus). I am sure Santa will send a card and letter to Noah.
With every card Noah receives, may there be love, healing, and comfort for him….and his family.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:02 AM
For eighteen years I have collected Noah’s ark Christmas cards, and am very pleased to be sending more than a dozen of my favorites off to Noah today. Blessings to him and his family.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:16 AM
The postal carrier hasn’t come yet today, so Noah’s card is waiting now to be picked up! Fortunately, I have Xmas cards on hand (we’re Jewish) for spontaneous sending. And Quince Squibb Underpinnings, that is a wonderful idea! Bless you for your generosity.
Thanks for letting me know about little Noah, as well as other Mudflatters whose boots are on the ground and walking to the mailbox! Other folk I know will be notified, stat. I hope Noah makes the Guinness Book for Most Cards Received. Or, at the very least, that a whole USPS truck is necessary to carry his cards. And more than once!
I’ll say a m’she’br’ach–the Jewish prayer for healing–for him and his family.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Card is on its way and the story has gone to all on my mailing list as well. Thanks for giving us the heads up Zyx, and to AKM for posting.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:26 AM
The card is on it’s way and I sure hope Noah’s family notified the local post office!
They’re gonna be swamped.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:42 AM
I love sending cards almost as much as getting them, but this is what it is all about- I love your idea Quince. I think Noah would love it too.
November 9th, 2009 at 8:58 AM
I had gotten a similar message from a facebook friend with a different first name, but the address seems to be the same. I hope this is the same kid and not some kind of internet hoax; and/or I got the right name and address as I had my 5 year old make a Christmas card and send it to him last week. I just hope that as it is being mailed from remote Alaska that it gets to Noah in time.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:10 AM
Hedgewytch, I have heard this story a few times on the news- also our local radio ‘hoax checker’ says they checked it out as true. Hopefully it is, just don’t send any personal info. like a return address I guess.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:38 AM
The difficulty with the cancer-patient-child-wants-Christmas-cards send-arounds is that they’re harder to take out of circulation than they are to put in. Snopes documented one case where a child who passed away in 1999 is still getting cards. The original request was sent out by a friend of the family. The parents, even at the time, expressed a preference that people simply offer prayers. If you do choose to respond to one of these, please specify the year (as this one does), and, just to be safe, don’t send any identifying information, such as a return address.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:53 AM
I checked this one on Snopes earlier, and it appears to be something the parents have asked for. So I have sent a card.
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp
November 9th, 2009 at 9:53 AM
If you want the latest news on Noah´s postcard:
They have a facebook page. They did change the address to distribute the masses of mail they are getting. I used the facebook address. Here it is:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=330270940321&ref=mf
I know about the other Card Case and I´m sure AKM checked this out before alerting us.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:54 AM
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp
Here is snopes take on it.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:54 AM
But there is apparently a new address for sending the cards
Noah Biorkman
c/o Scott Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford, MI 48380
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp
November 9th, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Snopes says this is legit:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp
@Hedgewytch: The different first name is because a family member is also accepting cards at a different address (available at the above link).
November 9th, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Noah Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford, MI 48380
The new address.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:56 AM
lol, John, LettersfromEurope and I all wrote the same thing at the same time!
November 9th, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Ooops, it is all there already. Maybe I saw it too late in Europe…. Sorry about the double info….
November 9th, 2009 at 9:56 AM
And again…
November 9th, 2009 at 10:03 AM
I did check it out before posting.
Also, either address will work. They just want to spread the mail around. So no worries if you already addressed an envelope. The response has been great so far.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Info from Snopes at http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp led me to a care page for Noah with a posting of today, excerpted below…
They did provide an alternate mailing address at Snopes
Noah Biorkman
c/o Scott Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford MI 48380
“Hello Everyone!
What a week! Scott and I have had a hard time wrapping our brain around how much support and compassion we have received from people all around the world!!! Noah was the 17th most googled topic on Thursday and 12th on Friday!! Unbelievable!!!!!!!
Thank you to everyone for the support! Thank you to everyone that listened to my requests for peace. Thank you to Mindy for setting up security for my front door today!! Thank you to the South Lyon Police, Fire, and Post Office for the help and support over the past week. Today was the first day that I could relax. We had a person sitting out front guarding the door. My family and I didn’t have to worry about whether the person walking up was going to knock or ring the doorbell. Yes, I do have a sign on the door.
I just wanted to note something interesting. Last Saturday, I posted a little note on this carepage — it said that we were celebrating Christmas this week. If you would like to send Noah a card, send me an email and I will give you my address!! Our friends and family have repeatedly asked us for something to do to help. Asking for a Christmas card was something simple that many people could do. They posted it on Facebook and BAMMMMM!!!!!!! Next thing I know, we are receiving thousands of cards and packages. Tuesday — 64, Wednesday — 416, Thursday — 2,600, Friday — 5,100 and Saturday — ??????? At least 10,000. Yes, you read that right — at least 10,000.
We are opening and reading each and every card. This is taking some time. It is just humbling, shocking, incredible, astounding… the outpouring of love for one sick little boy.
Friday night, Noah loved meeting Santa. ……
Today was a very merry Christmas! Noah, my mom, and I woke to a Christmas tree in our front yard, fully decorated with wrapped presents underneath. Noah thought that was the coolest thing. Again — the smile said it all. He spent most of the day in my bedroom. No shocker there! He was stingy with his happy face today. He slept quite a bit and he seems to be hurting again.
…….
No matter how hard this is or how painful it is, Scott, my family, and I can say one thing — Noah had Christmas today. And for that, I am grateful.
Merry Christmas Everyone! The world helped make it special for Noah, my family, Scott, and myself. I can guarantee one thing — This week was a week that none of us will ever forget.”
Thank you for the update. I’ll put it in the post. AKM
November 9th, 2009 at 10:29 AM
i just called norad.
i don’t know if any of you have ever “tracked” santa through the norad site as he makes his way around the world every december 25th, but it is such a fun thing to do for all kids, young and old.
the personel there are going to try to get a dvd to noah…or create one for him…from santa as he makes his way over minnesota.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Believe it or not I just bought one of those musical christmas cards for my grandchild. It has Scooby singing in Ruff ruff sound jingle bells. I am sure he’ll love it. I have never bought any kind of cards like that before. Funny how god seems to work in funny ways. May the angels carry Noah right to Jesus. He is showing us all how to be strong. I know it is hard for the family. I bet little Noah is being strong for his family. Please let us know how Noah is doing and if possible how many cards he got.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Oh my!!! I just thought I teared up when I read about Noah…After reading Karla’s post (#28) I find it impossible to work as I can’t see throught the tears welling in my eyes and streaming down my face. Not to mention the tear wracked voice as I try to answer the phone line. My thoughts and prayers go out to this family and a card will be going out to Noah as soon as I get off work.
Thank you AKM for the Heads Up and Thanks Karla for the update except !!!
November 9th, 2009 at 11:19 AM
I am ON it. Sent it to everyone I know and am hoping my daughter’s school (or at least her own 4th grade class) will turn this into a project.
Thank you for giving this to us AKM!
November 9th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
BTW – If you don’t have any holiday cards, you can go to Hallmark’s site and complete a card that they will send for you. Lots of choices.
Mine cost only $1.43
http://www.hallmark.com
November 9th, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Will do. And gladly.
Another opportunity to wonder how much it has cost this family to try to save him.
I don’t want to be crass but medical bills from chemo and experimenal drugs, hospital stays can quicly roll up into 6 figures and beyond.
And you know this little guys parents would sell the clothes off their backs to save his life.
May the strength and love of God go with this family.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:47 AM
33 TLGeiger62 (GA) Says:
November 9th, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Thanks for he Hallmark site. That ’s probably the quickest.
November 9th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
31 Misfit in Texas Says:
November 9th, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Oh my!!! I just thought I teared up when I read about Noah…
AKM can besooooo mean. She made me cry too.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:31 PM
A card is going in the mail now.
November 9th, 2009 at 1:47 PM
M U D P U P P I E S sharing random kindness around the campfire…
Like We Can….
UFFFDAAAA
November 9th, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Thanks for sharing AKM, posting on my FB and sending to my e-mail list.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:58 PM
Bless you AKM and thank you for passing this on, and bless this little one’s heart. Two have been sent from us here in Australia. Will pass it on out here.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Pretty easy and a pleasure from the slough. Love and best to Noah and his family.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:09 PM
Tears flowing. Thanks for that update.
November 10th, 2009 at 6:39 AM
My mom called me early this morning telling me about Noah (she’s in Indiana and heard about him from a friend). I’m in Tennessee so this morning a card is on it’s way to Noah from my family!!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:36 AM
Thank you Noah for giving us an opportunity to reach out and touch you through a card. I hope you get a zillion of them.
November 10th, 2009 at 7:33 PM
Thanks Mudflats for sharing this. America needs a lot more of this type concern.
Kenny
PS–I got mine off immediately after reading your blog. Found one with a picture of McKinley with Caribou (Reindeer) crossing a ridge in foreground.