Danny Nickerson is turning 6 on Friday. But he’s not looking to have a massive birthday party or get a pile of new toys. What he really wants is mail.
Nickerson, a Massachusetts native, was diagnosed with a rare and inoperable brain tumor this past October and has since stopped going to school. Unable to play with his fellow kindergarteners, Danny can get lonely. But there’s one thing that always lifts his spirits: getting cards with his name written on them.
"He can recognize his name now," Danny's mother, Carley Nickerson, told ABC News. "When he saw his name on the package from magical fairies on Easter, he was so happy."
Since then, the packages have stopped and the chemotherapy treatments have intensified.
“He had 33 radiations from November through December last year," Nickerson’s mother said. "We are now getting chemotherapy every two weeks."
Less than 10 percent of the children diagnosed with this type of cancer live longer than 18 months, but Danny’s mom remains hopeful.
"I don't really believe in that. He is doing great," Carley Nickerson said. "Every day is a blessing for us."
Now, as Danny gets ready for his birthday on July 25, his story has gone viral. Social media has caught on, with the hashtag #CardsForDanny spreading quickly through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
#cardsfordanny take 5 minutes & send a card to this special little boy! pic.twitter.com/8usESPFQZa
— Emily Marshall (@EmilyPMarshall) July 23, 2014
Let's help this birthday boy's wish come true #cardsfordannypic.twitter.com/TtxzZCZ1En
— Kourtni Flynn (@KourtniFlynn) July 22, 2014
Please RT #CardsForDannyhttp://t.co/j6nYxExhJhpic.twitter.com/jFeH2Byqoz
— Ali Fedotowsky (@AliFedotowsky) July 22, 2014@stoolpresidente@kfcbarstool helping Danny start a collection of blogger baseball cards #cardsfordannypic.twitter.com/Q8p5SFl5K5
— GS (@Waysider_) July 22, 2014
Can't get cooler than a card that comes with a musical super hero wrist band right? #cardsfordanny@stoolpresidentepic.twitter.com/XklZVt5THG
— Kelsey (@kelbelle26) July 22, 2014
Took less than 10 minutes. Not the best, but it's off to Massachusetts! I even pitched in some cash(: #cardsfordannypic.twitter.com/ocFK1RRssz
— Ericka Bass (@ericka_noelle11) July 23, 2014#CardsForDanny#DannyNickerson Go get this little stud a card!! Pay it forward! http://t.co/mI2mMJBzqV
— Corey Bounds (@BoundsE) July 23, 2014And as a result, people from all over the country have been sending the little guy some awesome birthday cards. “I gave him to key to the P.O. box," Carley Nickerson said. "He was so excited when he opened it.”
To help make Danny’s birthday wishes come true, send your cards to: Danny Nickerson, P.O. Box 212, Foxboro, MA, 02035.
H/T KGW.com | Photo via Facebook, Letter photos via Cynthia Closkey, liz west/Flickr (CC BY 2.0) | Remix by Rob Price
