Aspen Kelly, 12, dreams of traveling the world, but her leukemia doesn’t allow her to go far.
Instead, the Oklahoma preteen is exploring places, from Wyoming to the Philippines, through the thousands of postcards sent from well-wishers around the world – including one signed by Tom Hanks.
“I didn’t expect it – I feel thankful,” Aspen told InsideEdition.com. “I just don't have anywhere to put them all.”
Aspen was diagnosed with leukemia last year, and has been in and out of chemotherapy treatments ever since.
Her treatments don’t allow her to travel, so ahead of her 13th birthday on Sept. 1, Aspen requested through Facebook that people supporting her in her journey send her postcards.
“I thought it would just be a bunch of mom’s reader and author friends,” she said.
Instead, the postcards arrived in droves and their P.O. box fills up daily with at least 200 postcards from around the United States and around the world.
She even began seeing packages, one even coming from a Parkinson’s patient letting her know she’s not alone.
The one apparently from Hanks, which they say is written in his writing and includes a selfie, reads: “I hope this makes it in time for your 13th birthday.”
Aspen said she hopes she feels better from the chemo in time for her birthday, when she plans to read through all the postcards.
To send Aspen a birthday wish, address postcards to Aspen Kelly, P.O. Box 822, Watonga, OK 73772.
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