A Special Birthday Wish from a Brave Teen

Aspen Kelly, a remarkable 13-year-old from Oklahoma, is getting ready to celebrate her birthday on September 1. But this isn’t just any birthday. Aspen, who’s been bravely fighting leukemia since November 2017, has a unique wish for her special day. Instead of a party or presents, she asked for something extraordinary: postcards from all over the world. Her mom, Vanessa Kelly, shared this heartwarming request with Closer Weekly, explaining, "Aspen's wish was to receive postcards for her birthday because she wants to see places and things she’s never been to before. Unfortunately, due to her medical condition, she can’t travel or attend gatherings this year." Aspen's wish has touched the hearts of people worldwide, bringing a flood of support and kindness to her life.

Postcards Pouring In from Around the Globe

Since Vanessa shared Aspen’s wish on Facebook last month, the response has been overwhelming. According to Vanessa, Aspen has already received over 1,000 postcards from every single U.S. state and more than 49 countries. It’s a testament to the power of human connection and kindness. But one particular postcard stood out among the rest—a note from none other than Tom Hanks. Vanessa couldn’t contain her excitement when she shared the news on social media on Monday, August 21. "This postcard is too awesome not to share," Vanessa wrote. "Tom Hanks took the time to send Aspen a postcard from Greece! At first, I wasn’t sure if it was really him, but after comparing his handwriting to a fan letter online, it checks out. And guess what—he’s actually in Greece right now. How cool is that?!"

The Personal Touch from Tom Hanks

On the back of the postcard, Tom, now 62, penned a heartfelt message for Aspen. It reads, "Aspen — I hope this arrives in time for your Happy 13th Birthday! Love you! Tom Hanks." Such a simple yet profound gesture shows the impact one act of kindness can make. Tom’s postcard is just one of the many examples of how people worldwide have rallied around Aspen, making her birthday unforgettable.

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aspen kelly tom hanks postcard — Vanessa Kelly

Vanessa’s initial Facebook post, written on July 20, titled "Birthday Request for a Fighter," set the stage for this incredible journey. In the post, Vanessa shared, "As many people know, my daughter Aspen has been fighting leukemia since November 22, 2017. Her birthday is September 1, and she’ll be turning 13. This year, she can’t really do anything or go anywhere for her birthday like she used to, so she has a special request. She would love to receive postcards for her birthday." Vanessa explained further, "Since she can’t travel unless her counts are up, she’s hoping that maybe people can send her a postcard from where they live in the United States or all over the world. She’d love to see beautiful places or something cool and exciting from other places she’s never been to before."

Vanessa added, "It would be awesome if we could get one from each of the 50 states and six of the continents. Not sure if Antarctica is an option, lol. You can send them anytime, and I plan on putting any postcards received into a box that she can unwrap on her birthday. I’ll be gathering them up for her until then."

If you’d like to send Aspen a postcard before her September 1 birthday, please mail it to the following address:

Aspen Kelly