A simple plea to cheer up an eight-year-old boy with terminal cancer turned into an incredible display of holiday spirit that has warmed hearts across the nation.
Drake Quibodeaux has received more than 40,000 cards from all over the globe wishing him a Merry Christmas.
Now his family’s kitchen is stacked sky high with piles of packages and envelopes that continue to grow.
Some contain toys, others hold books. And some are simply notes wishing Drake and his family well during a hard time.
Drake Quibodeaux, who has terminal brain cancer, received more than 40,000 cards from all over the globe wishing him a Merry Christmas
His family’s kitchen is stacked sky high with piles of packages and envelopes that continue to grow every day
The cards come just weeks after they received the news that Drake’s tumor was growing.
Drake was diagnosed with Difuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a highly aggressive tumor found at the base of the brain, earlier this year.
Only five percent of children with the tumor survive a year after they’re diagnosed.
‘At the start, they give you nine to 12 months,’ Danielle Quibodeaux, Drake’s mother, told WTHR.
The cards come just weeks after they received the news that Drake’s tumor was growing
Drake was diagnosed with Difuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a highly aggressive tumor found at the base of the brain, earlier this year. Only five percent of children with the tumor survive a year after they’re diagnosed
Drake hit the nine-month mark on December 12, making the reality of his situation all the more real.
A family friend decided to try and bring some holiday cheer to the Quibodeaux home, and wrote a post on Facebook asking people to ‘flood’ Drake’s mailbox with Christmas cards.
Letters and packages soon started coming in, hundreds at a time, completely shocking Drake and his family.
‘It’s not about presents, it’s not about nothing,’ Quibodeaux said. ‘It’s about letting him know the community loves him and they’re behind him.’
A family friend decided to try and bring some holiday cheer to the Quibodeaux home, and wrote a post on Facebook asking people to ‘flood’ Drake’s mailbox with Christmas cards
Letters and packages soon started coming in, hundreds at a time, completely shocking Drake and his family
Drake’s goal was 190 cards. Within days, he had far surpassed it.
‘We tape them to our front door,’ Quibodeaux said. ‘He just looks at them and says, “They love me so much mama.” I’m like, “Yes baby.”‘
The family received letters from schools. People came by to decorate their house.
Drake received visits from police officers, soldiers, and even Santa Claus.
Drake received visits from police officers, soldiers, and even Santa Claus (pictured together)
Drake also received a visit from the Mike the Tiger, the Louisiana State University mascot
Louisiana Lt Governor Billy Nungesser sent a letter naming Drake a true ‘Louisiana Ambassador’.
‘We’re blown away with the support,’ Quibodeaux said. ‘People will come up to me and they’re like “Thank you for letting us take part in this.”‘
‘I’m like, “I should be thanking you,”‘ she continued. ‘I don’t know why they’re thanking me, because it should be the other way around. But we’re blown away.’