What started as a simple Christmas wish for a little Nova Scotia girl battling cancer, has grown into so much more.
Nine-year-old Hailey has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) for the past two years. The holiday season has been particularly tough for Hailey and her family because she was diagnosed in December two years ago.
In an effort to lift her spirits this year, Hailey鈥檚 mother, Jaunita Rodenhiser, asked her friends on Facebook to send Christmas cards to her daughter. Rodenhiser explained that Hailey loves receiving mail and she thought the cards would cheer her up. Her simple request, posted on Facebook in November, went viral after first catching the attention of 麻豆传媒 and then taking off with other news outlets in Canada and the U.S.
With five days left until Christmas, Hailey has already received nearly 10,000 Christmas cards from well-wishers around the world. On Monday, the family received nine tote bags filled with cards for Hailey, which Rodenhiser estimates to be around 4,000 cards 鈥� the largest shipment yet.
鈥淗ailey was just grinning from ear to ear,鈥� Rodenhiser told CTVNews.ca during a telephone interview on Tuesday from Nova Scotia. 鈥淪he comes to the door and she says, 鈥楳ommy, are you ready for this?鈥欌��
Indeed, they had so much mail on their porch on Monday evening that Hailey鈥檚 father couldn鈥檛 even walk through the pile to turn on the outdoor light. Rodenhiser said they鈥檙e considering an alternative storage space for all of her daughter鈥檚 cards because they鈥檙e running out of room in their mobile home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just overwhelming the response that she鈥檚 gotten,鈥� Rodenhiser said. 鈥淚鈥檓 touched and overwhelmed.鈥�
Mail from around the world
Rodenhiser said Hailey has had mail delivered from every Canadian province and the Northwest Territories, although nothing yet from the Yukon or Nunavut. Her parents have already bought her a big map so they can record all of the locations her cards have come from around the world, which includes places as far away as Japan.
It鈥檚 not just individuals sending cards to Hailey, Rodenhiser said bundles of cards from entire school classes and nursing homes have arrived for her daughter. She recounted one delivery that came in three separate envelopes stuffed with cards from the same school. Rodenhiser said the Christmas cards were from students in primary classes all the way up to Grade 12.
Hailey鈥檚 mother said all of the messages written inside the cards have been positive and supportive.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e saying how much she鈥檚 inspiring other people. They鈥檙e encouraging her and saying that she鈥檒l be able to get better,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e saying how much they appreciate her strength.鈥�
Lifting Hailey鈥檚 spirits
Rodenhiser said she鈥檚 noticed that her daughter is managing to get through her latest round of steroid treatments a little better this time, which she attributes to the mail Hailey looks forward to receiving every day.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 less (difficult) this time. I don鈥檛 notice as big an impact,鈥� Rodenhiser said. 鈥淚 think she鈥檚 gotten stronger with this.鈥�
As for the big pile of Christmas cards Rodenhiser was hoping to assemble for Hailey to jump into as if they were leaves?
Rodenhiser said they鈥檙e going to wait and see just how big the pile becomes.
鈥淢y husband says we鈥檒l be at it until the summer,鈥� Rodenhiser said with a laugh.
With nearly 10,000 Christmas cards already, it鈥檚 safe to say Hailey will have a pretty sizable pile of Christmas cards to enjoy.
Rodenhiser also added that some supporters have messaged her about making a donation in Hailey鈥檚 name instead of sending a Christmas card and she asked that anyone interested in doing that to , an organization which has helped Hailey throughout her treatment.
But if you would still like to send Hailey a Christmas card, you can send it to this address:
Hailey Rodenhiser
151 Hirtle Road
Dayspring, Nova Scotia
B4V 5R1
