Christmas comes early for terminally ill two-year-old boy as neighbours bring festive magic to his final weeks of life

Brody Allen was diagnosed with embryonal brain cancer (ETMR) – an extremely rare brain tumour – in May.

Brody, from Cincinnati, Ohio, endured several months of gruelling chemotherapy before doctors told the family there was nothing more they could do.

With five incurable tumours intertwined in his brain stem, doctors gave Brody just two months left to live – and that was five weeks ago.

The toddler's mum Shilo, along with the rest of the Allen family, decided to bring the festive period forward as their beloved Brody wouldn’t live to see another Christmas, according to doctors.

They adorned the inside and outside of the home with decorative lights and inflatable figures and played bellowing Christmas music.



But after struggling to find enough Christmas decorations in September to complete their vision, the Allen family set up a “Team Brody” Facebook page, asking neighbours and members of their local town to borrow more lights.

Incredibly, not only were the Allen’s gifted with an abundance of fairy lights and tinsel, but their neighbours began decorating their homes, too.

Soon, the entire street was revelling in the festive illusion, as the family house became inundated with presents and cards.

But local cops have been left hunting a twisted vandal who is destroying the Christmas inflatables.

Neighbour Perry Mattan said someone slashed an inflatable Santa decoration near the little lad's home.



Mattan says he has patched up the inflatables the two times they’ve been deflated, WCPO reported.

He said: “It's nice seeing the love, but then you got that 0.1 per cent that want to kind of ruin it for that little boy, and I just don't get it. Just cowards.”

But the community were defiant, vowing to keep fixing the damaged decorations, with Body's dad Todd Allen saying: “You can't break Christmas.”

Overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers, the Allens insist Brody knows no difference when it comes to the date, and, in his mind, it’s “just Christmas”.



Big sister McKenzie, 21, said: “Brody doesn’t know it’s not actually Christmas or that this is all just for him.

“He just woke up one day, saw all of the lights and has been in awe ever since.

“He loves sitting in his wagon and looking at the lights at night; he loves opening all the presents and mail he’s receiving.

“Everything everyone has done for us means the world.

“They greatest gift they’ve given us is strength – strength when we needed it the most.”

On May 5, Brody awoke at home feeling extremely dizzy and soon became unable to walk.

After rushing her son to the hospital, Shilo was soon given the devastating news by doctors, who confirmed Brody was suffering from an extremely rare type of brain cancer.

ETMR (Embryonal tumours with multilayered rosettes) affects only around 300 people.

What is Embryonal Brain Cancer?

Embryonal tumors with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) are rare fast-growing tumors that form in the brain and spinal cord. ETMR most commonly occur in young children below the age of 4 years. Current treatment options for ETMR include surgical resection, systemic chemotherapy and craniospinal radiation (when appropriate).

To ensure correct diagnosis and treatment, children with embryonal tumors need to be seen at a center that has a team of pediatric specialists with expertise and experience in pediatric brain tumors, with access to the latest technology and treatments for children.

After Brody endured several months of chemotherapy, a follow-up scan on August 4 confirmed the family’s worst fears – the treatment had been unsuccessful and there was nothing more doctors could do.

McKenzie and the rest of her family will be sitting down for Brody’s final Christmas dinner on September 25, determined to make the last few weeks of Brody’s life as special as possible.

She said: “All I can say is a huge thank you to everyone.

“You’ve given my baby brother the best Christmas ever and given us as a family a support system that is worldwide.”



 

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