Family of Hamilton girl, 8, fighting cancer asks for birthday cards

Naomi Short, the Hamilton girl battling stage 4 brain cancer, will turn 9 on May 4, and her family is asking people to send her birthday cards.

The family put out a call recently on its Facebook page — Naomi’s Fight: Naomi Strong — seeking cards for the Crawford Woods Elementary School third grader.

“We know most people are having it rough right now because of this virus,” they wrote. “But if you are able to send a card, it would mean the world to her. Back in (October) when she was diagnosed, we were under the impression that she wouldn’t be here for her birthday. They didn’t know Naomi. They didn’t know how faithful and strong this girl is. (Honestly, we didn’t either).

“Every time she starts a new battle in this war, she comes out of stronger and more determined,” they added.

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Her mother, Melissa Short, told the Journal-News several weeks ago they were trying to think of things to do to celebrate her ninth birthday. But the emergence of COVID-19 wiped out that idea, at least for now.

“Under the circumstances with the virus and quarantine, we can’t do much till the virus passes,” the family wrote on its post. “We will celebrate it right after corona is gone.”

Here’s the address to send a card: Naomi Short, PO Box 18468, Fairfield, Ohio 45018.

The “Naomi’s Fight: Naomi Strong” page on Facebook has links people can use to help her and her family, as well as follow her condition.

Naomi, amid numerous surgeries and chemotherapy, has experienced many things aimed at taking her mind off of those problems. Among other things, she was celebrated at a Hamilton City Council meeting, met a Butler County Sheriff’s horse dressed as a unicorn and later was deputized, and also was sent a video by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, whose voice appeared in the animated 2016 film, “Moana.”

She also created her own candle at the Hamilton business, Petals & Wicks, which is selling her “Too Legit to Quit” candles to help raise money for her cash-depleted family.

The disease she faces is so rare it makes up only 0.1 percent of all childhood cancers, her mother has said.

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