Monday, December 7, 2009

Power Of Noah

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry that I haven't updated since the day Noah passed away. We have been busy opening Christmas cards.

First of all, I would like to thank everyone for respecting our privacy during the viewings and funeral for Noah. The funeral was beautiful as far as funerals go. Thank you to Pastor Allen, Ward Presbyterian, and Christine for making the funeral something to remember.

I would like to talk a little about the Power of Noah. This is the phrase that the people that are in my life use to describe the things that have happened in the past few weeks.

Noah has received over one million Christmas cards, American flags flown from all over the world, letter from President Obama, and many medals from most of the branches of the military. It has been absolutely amazing to hear the stories of the individuals that have sent cards to us, as well. For example, one of the first cards that we received was from a local woman whose daughter had been killed in a car accident. She had stopped celebrating Christmas for over three years. Because of Noah's story, she sent him a card and plans on celebrating Christmas this year.

Two seventh graders were touched by Noah's story and wanted to do something to help. They sold donuts and sent a little over $500.00 to the University of Michigan.

The University of Michigan has named the Neuroblastoma Research Fund after Noah and is currently setting up a web page that will be dedicated to the Power of Noah. It will have information about Neuroblastoma, Noah's story, and ways to donate to the research fund online. Dr. Mody and Dr. Yanik are so excited about the Power of Noah. They haven't seen anything like this and are humbled that Noah chose for them to be part of it.

We have donated to Make-A-Wish with toys and books and gifts. Also, we have been able to give them checks that people sent along with donations to follow from the monies raised.

I want everyone to know that each and every card is being opened and read. It is a time consuming process and I have a staff that is working every day. We have many people that are helping and we all have found that it's quite therapeutic to read them. We all sit together and share stories and messages that are in the cards. We have all been surprised at how much fun we are having. We laugh and cry and just enjoy each other's company. Maybe that's the point. I don't know.

Many people want to know how I'm doing. I'm doing fine. I have a peace that is very difficult to describe. I don't have any regrets about the way Noah's life was handled. I don't have any what ifs or I should have done that. I know that I did everything that I could to help Noah. We did our research and made the right decisions for Noah. When it was time to stop the treatments, I am proud that he chose me to help him leave this world. I helped him into this world and I helped him out. I think that my family and I did it the right way. We made sure that he was prepared and because of that he wasn't scared. I got to hold his hand and be right there with him when he passed away. It was peaceful and the second most powerful moment of my life. The first was the day he was born.

The Power of Noah lives on in each one of us.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Our Angel

After a long battle with Stage IV Neruorblastoma cancer, Monday morning at 8:02 AM, Noah Biorkman passed away at his home in South Lyon, Michigan.

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 one 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.

Thank you so much for your support and love.

Sincerely,
The Biorkman Family

Please send donations to the following:

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

OR

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

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Wow!! Thanks! Please STOP!!!!

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.

Posted Nov 13, 2009 1:03pm

This updated was taken from the biorkman family carepages webpage which can be found at https://www.carepages.com/carepages/NoahScottBiorkman


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Address Change

Hello Everyone!

We received 80,000 pieces of mail on Monday alone! We even received mail today on Veteran's Day! Yes, the Post Office is closed today, yet, we still got mail!

My gargage is so full that we asking for everyone to please send all communications to Noah's father's house.

Everything should go to the following:

Scott Biorkman
3480 Petoskey Way
Milford, Michigan 48380

Please post on all Facebook accounts the address change. I literally don't have any more room.

Thank you for your support. Our family really appreciates it!!

Posted Nov 11, 2009 12:23am

This updated was taken from the biorkman family carepages webpage which can be found at https://www.carepages.com/carepages/NoahScottBiorkman

Merry Christmas!!

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. He wasn't so sure about the fire truck or Santa coming on the fire truck. We waved from the balcony. Noah feels safe in my bedroom. That's where he spends most of his time. He wouldn't come out of the bedroom so Santa went in. He sat on the floor and opened presents with Noah, Scott, and I. Then I went out to make sure everyone was doing well and Santa sat right next to Noah. Noah wrapped his arms around Santa's neck and wouldn't let go.

The smile on his face was worth it. He smiled from ear to ear.

Saturday, Noah loved opening presents and let me tell you -- there isn't a shortage of them!! We had a crew at the house and he would pick which person he wanted to play with and that person went into the bedroom and played. When he had enough, he would sleep. We decided to have Santa come on Friday for two reasons. 1.) Santa needed to have time to get back to the North Pole. 2.) Noah needed a day of rest between the big events.

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.

Noah is having pain in the left elbow and upper body. This is all new pain. However, he's stubborn as a mule and won't let me give him any IV pain meds. We keep increasing his Methadone which we did on Friday. That hasn't seemed to help much. You can see the difference in him. You can see him slowing down. You can see him in pain and just plain getting tired. He's just at that point.

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.

Thanks

Posted Nov 9, 2009 6:50pm

This updated was taken from the biorkman family carepages webpage which can be found at https://www.carepages.com/carepages/NoahScottBiorkman