Email chain letter requests Christmas cards for Noah Biorkman, a terminally ill 5-year-old in South Lyon, Michigan suffering from neuroblastoma cancer.
Description: Forwarded email
Circulating since: Oct. 2009
Status: True / Outdated (see details below)
Example:
As posted on an online message board, Nov. 4, 2009:
Diana Harrison Biorkman has a 5 year old son who is at the end if a 2½ year battle with neuroblastoma cancer. They are celebrating Christmas next weekend. He has asked for Christmas cards.
Anyone wanting to send one, please send to:
Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon, MI 48178
THANK YOU!
Analysis: (NOTE: Noah Biorkman died on Monday, November 23, 2009. See updates below.)
According to WDIV-TV News in Detroit, 5-year-old Noah Biorkman of South Lyon, Michigan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in February 2007 and has been fighting the disease ever since. Neuroblastoma is a form of cancer that originates in nerve cells and only affects children.
Since he is not expected to live until Christmas, Noah's family chose to celebrate the holiday early and issued a request for Christmas cards on his behalf. As of November 6, 2009 he had received over 8,000 cards and gifts from around the world, nearly all of them from total strangers.
The family asks that in lieu of gifts, senders include one dollar with their cards, to be donated to the University Of Michigan neuroblastoma research center and the Make-A-Wish Foundation (NOTE: I have received a report that the Make-A-Wish Foundation is not officially affiliated with Noah Biorkman's case).
Nov. 11, 2009 update - Noah Biorkman's mother reports on CarePages.com that Noah is currently receiving 80,000 pieces of mail a day. She requests that cards now be sent to the following address instead of the one posted previously:
Scott Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford, Michigan 48380
Nov. 13, 2009 update - Noah's family now asks that well-wishers STOP sending cards and gifts. Here is the latest CarePages.com entry:
Wow! The outpouring of love and concern for Noah is just amazing! Scott and I never in a million years thought that so many people would want to send Christmas cards to Noah. However, please note: We did already celebrate Christmas LAST Sunday -- November 8th.PLEASE STOP SENDING CARDS AND GIFTS!!!!
Noah is very ill. He is not getting out of bed and it's time for Scott, our families, and I to concentrate on our son. His time is very short and he needs us.
Scott and I would like to say thank you so much for the support and continued show of love. However, we are asking that everyone please stop sending cards and gifts.
Also, everyone please post the stop order on Facebook and any other websites or organizations that you belong to. We need the peace right now.
Thank you for your understanding in this request.
Nov. 23, 2009 update - According to a posting by the Biorkman family on CarePages.com, Noah passed away at his home at 8:02 a.m. on November 23, 2009. Read more...
April 27, 2010 update - Associated Press reports that Noah Biorkman is being honored with a cancer research fund set up in his name at the University of Michigan. According to his family, Noah received a total of 1,175,752 Christmas cards from well-wishers. Read more...
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Sources and further reading:
Thousands Send Early Christmas Cards to Dying 5-Year-Old Noah Biorkman
MLive.com, 6 November 2009Cancer Research Fund Set Up for Noah Biorkman
Associated Press, 27 April 2010
Last updated: 12/14/12
