South Lyon Boy with Terminal Cancer Dies

He celebrated Christmas early because his family knew he was dying. The five-year-old South Lyon boy's simple request was send me Christmas cards, and a million people from around the world did just that. Sadly, he died on November 23. Now, his family has a request to keep his memory alive.

Five-year-old Noah Biorkman had his favorite holiday complete with Santa, his parents and all the Christmas cards a kid could want. More than a million over the past few weeks full of love and well wishes from around the world for a child with cancer who wasn't expected to live to see December 25.

Sadly, Noah didn't make it to Thanksgiving. He passed away November 23.

"And you would have realized how it's touched everyone around the world, not just Michigan... not just (the) United States," said Dave Priebe with the South Lyon Post Office.

Priebe and his co-workers have processed hundreds of thousands of cards and packages since Noah's Christmas card wish hit the internet a few weeks ago.

"They keep coming from Indonesia, Greece, Australia, China and Japan," Priebe said.

They keep coming, even though Noah's no longer around to open them.

Many of the boxes are filled with cards from kids at schools across the county. Others are filled with gifts, and the family is donating the toys to Toys for Tots.

They're also asking that you donate, as well. Please don't send sympathy cards. They've already have more cards than they can count. Instead, help another child.

"There are a lot of little Noahs out there, just really special, extraordinary kids," said Susan Lerch with Make-A-Wish Michigan.

Make-A-Wish Michigan grants wishes to children with life threatening illnesses. It's expensive, but they never turn a child away.

Noah was a wish kid. He went to Disneyland a couple of years ago and even got to visit his grandparents in California.

There are hundreds of children like him with all kinds of wishes waiting to be granted. Noah's family is hoping you'll help.

"That joy that people felt when they got to send a card to Noah, if you could send a small contribution to Make-A-Wish, think how good that will feel when you're making another child's wish come true," Lerch said.

Click here to read a statement from the family.

Use the information below to donate in Noah's name to Make-A-Wish or his hospital:

Department of Pediatrics and Oncology University of Michigan
1500 East Medical Center Drive
D4202MPB
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-5718
Checks payable to: The University of Michigan -- Noah's Pediatric Oncology Fund

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan
230 Huron View Blvd.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
Checks payable to: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan -- Memo: Noah Biorkman