UTMC

I am convinced it is the little things we do for people that matter the most. That is why I am posting this. One of the kids I grew up with died of cancer at a really young age. I think Keith was about 9 when he passed... made me think of him.


People around America are opening their hearts to the story of Noah Biorkman, a 5-year-old boy currently in a hospice, dying from Stage IV neuroblastoma.

His parents are asking people all around the country to mail Christmas cards to the boy early, as he may not live to see Christmas this year.

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! His family will be celebrating Christmas this weekend.

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.

Please help the fulfill the Biorkman family's wish to make this the best Christmas ever for Noah. You can send your Christmas cards to:

Noah Biorkman
c/o 99.5 WYCD
2201 Woodward Heights Blvd.
Ferndale, MI 48220-1511

Sending my card tomorrow.

Sent two cards around the office today that are getting mailed this afternoon. I'm getting a few more cards fr my parents this weekend - my mother is a Christmas card writing crazy person - so she has a few extras.

I'm thinking about getting a couple of the super big cards and sitting in front of the cafe at lunch time next week and getting people to sign them.

jangleplatz!

I am happy to report that this is legit.

Here's the snopes.com page confirming:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp

stiles wrote:I am happy to report that this is legit.

Here's the snopes.com page confirming:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/biorkman.asp

Yes... maybe i should have something about that.
I am the relative that sends spam back to you if it does not fact check out... along with a written bitch slap. i think there are a few aunts that stopped sending me mass emails who i can't wait to see when i go back for the holidays.

I sent one today. Should get there in three to five days from Monday (didn't check the emptying times of the box before I dropped it), according to the post office.

There's a video linked from the radio stations website:
http://wycd.com/Christmas-cards-to-Noah ... he/5588415

I got one with a little angel holding a candle as he apparently really likes candles.
Poor kid deserves every second of happy that can be squeezed in.

Noah Biorkman, the 5-year-old South Lyon boy who captured the nation's attention early this month, died on Monday after battling cancer for nearly three years.

In early November, Noah's mother Diana mother posted a request for Christmas cards to help her son celebrate the holiday early. She knew he wouldn't make it to the end of December.

Noah was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma in 2007, when he was 3 years old. He went into remission, but then relapsed in September 2008.

After Diana'a request, which got picked up on social media sites like Facebook and Reddit, thousands of people from around the country and the world began sending cards and small gifts to the Biorkman home.

The family celebrated Christmas on Nov. 8, but the cards kept coming.

According to a statement released to WDIV yesterday by Diana Biorkman, more than one million cards eventually arrived at their home for Noah.

In the statement, Diana also thanks everyone for their support, and now hopes people can continue giving in honor Noah, but this time in the form of donations to cancer-related organizations.

Here is her statement:

WDIV, Nov. 23: "Scott and I, along with our families, would like to thank everyone for the continued support over the past few years during Noah’s illness. As most of you know, Noah has received more than 1 million Christmas cards over the past few weeks.

The outpouring of love and compassion has been remarkable and we are extremely grateful. We are now asking for everyone please respect our privacy during this very difficult time.

The funeral services will be for family only. We are asking that instead of sending cards and flowers to Scott and me; please make a donation in Noah’s name to either of the organizations below.

With your donation, Noah’s legacy will live on for many years to come, if not forever."
The organizations she chose are the Department of Pediatrics and Oncology at the University of Michigan and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan.

You can find address information for the organizations at clickondetroit.com.


http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index ... onday.html

Poor kid never even got the chance to fuck up his life. Just ain't fair.

I expect to get flamed for this, but: a million cards? at 42 cents each to post them? that would have been $420,000. Factor in the $1-2 dollars per card: another $1,000,000+. Imagine the impact if instead of having sent cards, those same million people had donated their $2 to cancer research. $2,000,000 towards cancer research ...

I get that the effort was to cheer up a young boy who was bravely struggling against a terminal illness, and his death is tragic ... but, people (including young kids) die of cancer everyday who didn't get their story picked up by the media ... wouldn't contributing to cancer research be a much better way of honouring this boy (and all the children with cancer whose names we don't know)?

I like that the media picked up this tear-jerker story, people tend to need a "face" to put to tragedy and remind themselves of why donating a few dollars here and there can actually make a significant impact.

GeekGrl wrote:I expect to get flamed for this, but: a million cards? at 42 cents each to post them? that would have been $420,000. Factor in the $1-2 dollars per card: another $1,000,000+. Imagine the impact if instead of having sent cards, those same million people had donated their $2 to cancer research. $2,000,000 towards cancer research ...

+1, I agree with the concept, and also the somewhat mercenary nature you express

/RM

Hmm... I suppose a "cure" for cancer would be lovely. However, that's not how it really works.
Cancer is neither a bacteria nor a virus. Cancer is the result of genetic mutations within the body's own cells.
There will never be a shot for "cancer."


http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/03/cu ... index.html

Prevention efforts, including discouraging smoking, obesity, and environmental hazards, are also important components of the cure, Dr. Andreas Ullrich, medical officer in cancer control at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.

I am totally ok that a creature got to experience a joy that cost a whole lot of money. It's just money.

erosvamp wrote:Hmm... I suppose a "cure" for cancer would be lovely.

I suppose so too, and it's quite possible with promising showings in fields like gene therapy. Although admittedly a shot is unlikely at least until nanotechnology comes much much further...

/RM

At he least he got to enjoy a Christmas with his family - I'm sure that next month they probably won't feel like celebrating much.