US: For 2-year-old cancer patient, neighbors celebrate Christmas in September
While the whole world celebrates the jolly festival of Christmas in December, a two-year-old boy in Cincinnati, US had to celebrate it this month. Five weeks ago, Brody Allen's parents were told that their son, who has a rare form of brain cancer, has only two months to live. Realizing the numbered days of Brody, his family decided to bring Christmas to him.
By the time Brody was diagnosed, he had four tumors
In May, Brody first complained of dizziness to which a doctor said it was probably an ear infection. After further tests in Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Brody's family found out that he had four embryonal tumors. "One on his lower spine, one intertwined with his brain stem and two behind his pons," McKenzie Allen, 21, his sister, said. "It's extremely rare," she said.
Whole neighborhood comes together to give Brody his last Christmas
To give him little joy, the family set up beautiful Christmas decorations and an actual Christmas tree. When the Allens got short of decorations, they started a Facebook page called 'Team Brody' and asked neighbors for help. Without a second thought, the whole neighborhood came to help. "I was willing to buy the decorations from them, but so many were donated," Todd Allen, his father, said.
"He doesn't know it's not Christmas, he's just enjoying it"
"In his mind, it is just Christmas. He woke up one day and the Christmas tree was out. He doesn't know it isn't really Christmas. He is just enjoying it," his sister said.
Neighbors sent gifts, set up snowman, Christmas trees in yards
Brody saw an inflatable Minnie and Mickey Mouse, a snowman, Santa Claus and a Christmas tree on the yard of Barbara Elliott, one of his neighbors. People have also sent Brody gifts and snacks. "We got 25 Christmas cards yesterday," McKenzie said. There's also a parade scheduled for September 23 and will feature Santa Claus in a fire truck, carolers and superheroes.
Hospital gave Brody the most aggressive chemotherapy, nothing worked
Brody's father, Todd Allen, 45, said Brody had the tumor from birth, and they had no idea. The hospital gave Brody the most aggressive chemotherapy treatment it could. Sadly, it wasn't effective. One of Brody's tumors grew by 30% and he developed a fifth tumor in his brain. There were no other options left, thus the family decided to simply keep him happy.
"We did it to make him happy"
"It's really hard, but I love seeing the joy in his eyes," Brody's mother, Shilo Allen, 41 said. "We did it to make him happy," she added. In his short lifetime of two years, Brody gained the love of entire Cincinnati. Merry Christmas Brody!
