Cancer Patient Receives Over 20,000 Paper Cranes To Fulfill Her Wish

Sometimes, all it takes is a wish.

When doctors told Lauren Krelshem her leukemia had returned despite having undergone a bone marrow transplant seven years ago, it was all she could do to hold it together.

The 21-year-old young woman from Adelaide, Australia had to resume cancer treatments, and to keep herself from going crazy, she started a hobby folding paper cranes in the Japanese art of Origami.

Origami paper crane.

Lauren had heard of a Japanese traditional belief that said, if you folded 1,000 paper cranes, you get a wish granted. So Lauren started gearing up to fold her thousand paper birds, with her one wish to beat cancer firmly in her mind.

Little did she know that her friend, Jen Frith had learned her intent. Jen recruited other friends, and together they started a movement to support Lauren’s quest for a wish. They started a secret Facebook account encouraging people to send #CranesForLauren, and they received an overwhelming response.

Wishes from the Germaine sisters all the way from Germany.

People from around the world sent Lauren folded paper cranes, photos of cranes, or took selfies of themselves holding #CranesForLauren.

From Australian musician, Amber Nichols

Even people who only knew Lauren from her story on the secret Facebook page, sent their support in the form of Origami-folded cranes.

From Australian theater actor, Patrick Jeremy and friends.

From the the "Cats" production at the Aussie Theater.

On her 21st birthday, after returning home to her apartment following one of her hospital visits, Lauren got the surprise of her life.

Thousands of paper cranes of all colors, shapes and sizes filled her home. On every surface, and even hanging from the ceiling, her friend, Jen ended up inundating Lauren’s pad with some 20,000 paper birds.

Lauren and over 20,000 Origami cranes.

That’s over 20 wishes, just for Lauren!

Lauren had been struggling with the return of her cancer, and her having to resume treatment, and the response from people all over Australia and the world for a girl they didn’t know overwhelmed her with hope.

That’s 20 wishes to beat cancer!

H/T: Aplus, Amber Nichols, Patrick Jeremy, Aussie Theater, the Germain sisters, ameliaah, Wikipedia, and the Leukemia Foundation