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Girl fighting cancer receives birthday cards from around the world

Posted at 6:28 PM, Sep 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-05 18:28:05-04

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - When a little girl fighting a rare form of brain cancer was asked what she wanted for her birthday, she wished for birthday cards from around the globe. Thanks to the kindness of others, the support was overwhelming.

Despite living so much of her life fighting cancer, in and out of hospitals, 6-year-old Maddie Pagel remains happy, smiling, and upbeat.

Prayers and support flooded in after Maddie made a wish to open as many birthday cards as possible.  Maddie turned six on Sept. 4, opening hundreds of cards from different states and countries, including France and Germany.

"The post office likes us," Maddie's mom, Tracy said. "They have her own little bin in the back that says 'Maddie' on it."

Those cards mean the world to Maddie as she fights Choroid Plexus Carcinoma, a rare form of brain cancer.  Perfect strangers sent gifts and cards to show their support for #teammaddiestrong.

Maddie's mom says they're accepting cards throughout the month of September, which is also childhood cancer awareness month.

To send a birthday card to Maddie, please mail here:

Maddie Pagel
P.O. Box 8043
Grand Rapids, MI 49518

As for Maddie's health, she's in stable condition, finishing the last of her three year clinical trial in October. Doctors will continue to monitor her tumor and her health.