10-year-old leukemia patient gets 500,000 business cards

Two months ago, all Brandon Rayner wanted was 150,000 business cards and a shot at including his name in the Guinness World Records. He got his cake, and he might be able to eat it too.

Brandon, a 10-year-old leukemia patient at Sunrise Children's Hospital undergoing an aggressive and uncomfortable round of treatment, has collected more than 500,000 business cards since announcing his goal in June.

He and his mother, Jo Rayner, have counted 503,555 cards sent to him from across the world. There are a good number of cards left to count, and more come in every day.

Brandon's pile also got a little boost from U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley.

Berkley personally dropped off 3,333 cards on Friday and also extended an invitation to Brandon to visit Washington, D.C., when he's feeling better.

And though not official, a representative from Guinness said the company is looking into creating a record for the largest business card collection. Because no one currently has this record, Brandon would be the one to beat.

Jo Rayner said she submitted the application to Guinness a week ago and is patiently waiting to hear back.

"This would really make his day,'' she said Friday from Brandon's room on the fourth floor of Sunrise Children's Hospital as Brandon rested. The room, which is decorated with all kinds of memorabilia, is not lacking for business cards.

Stacks of cards can be seen near a window while bags of uncounted cards are hidden behind a chair.

Two stacks of personalized cards, both containing the name Brandon Rayner and the phrase "Cancer Sux," sit on a table next to Brandon's hospital's bed.

"We have received cards from all over the world, Greece, Japan, China and Africa,'' Jo Rayner said. "I just couldn't believe the amount of support he's received. People really do care in the world.''

Jo Rayner said Brandon has received cards made of metal and wood. There's one in the shape of a paint brush.

Jo Rayner said all of the "counted" cards have been placed in boxes, which sit in front of the family's fireplace.

In the next four to six weeks, or when his condition improves, Brandon will travel back to Arizona and undergo a bone marrow transplant. The family expects to spend about three to six months in Arizona and then come back home to Las Vegas.

Brandon is expected to be out of school for at least another year.

"We'll have plenty of time to count any additional cards we're sent. We also need to sort them,'' Jo Rayner said. "We haven't decided how we're going to do that yet. We're thinking about putting them in binders.''

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