An Ohio town celebrated Christmas in September thanks to a 2-yr-old boy.
Late last month, an entire community filled the streets leading to a small cul-de-sac in northwest Ohio for a festive celebration.
It featured everything a little boy’s heart could desire, from superheroes and bounce houses to fire trucks and balloons. But the best thing of all was watching the parade roll through the streets, Santa Claus waved from one of the vehicles in the procession.
The special day was organized for Brody Allen, a 2-year-old who was born with brain cancer but didn’t start showing symptoms until May. Despite aggressive chemotherapy treatments, the cancer didn’t respond, and doctors told his parents last month that their toddler son probably had only a couple months left to live.
Since he wouldn’t live to see Christmas, Todd, Barbara and Brody’s 21-year-old sister, McKenzie, decided to celebrate early and created a Facebook page, asking people in their Colerain Township neighborhood to donate Christmas decorations.
But the Colerain community didn’t just heed that call. They came out and helped the Allens decorate, then strung their own houses with lights, even taking down their fall decorations and replacing them with snowflakes and poinsettias.
As word of the family’s plight began to spread, so did the early Christmas cheer, and the yards in and around their small cul-de-sac were soon sporting candy canes, Santa Claus inflatables, and other holiday fares. Knowing it’s her son’s last Christmas makes it especially emotional, mom Shilo said, “But, I love seeing the joy in his eyes. We did it to make him happy.”
Christian Care Ministry’s first ever Day of Sharing is happening on Saturday, October 6 and you don’t want to miss it! Christians all across the country will be serving their local communities by sharing their lives, faith, talents, and resources. The idea is to “Find a need, meet the need, and impact the Kingdom,” right where you are. To get more information or to sign up to join in, visit Day of Sharing dot com.