Two-year-old boy with deadly cancer gets an early Christmas from his neighbours

Five weeks ago, Brody Allen’s parents were told that their 2-year-old son’s rare form of brain cancer meant he had two months to live.

The boy’s family realized that he probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy one more Christmas. So they decided to celebrate early, putting up a tree and decorations, and their Ohio neighbourhood followed suit.

“In his mind it is just Christmas,” said McKenzie Allen, 21, Brody’s sister. “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.”

Hundreds of Christmas cards were delivered to Brody Allen, 2, at home in Cincinnati, OH on Sept 14, 2018. Allen was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in May and stopped treatments in August. His family decided to throw him an early Christmas. Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times

Brody’s health has deteriorated so that he no longer has the energy of a toddler or the use of his left arm and left leg. He likes to be outside, so he often sits in a red Radio Flyer wagon, a blanket thrown over him and a hoodie pulled over his head, while his siblings pull him around their neighbourhood in Colerain Township, a suburb of Cincinnati.

There he can see an inflatable Minnie and Mickey Mouse, a snowman, Santa Claus and a Christmas tree on the yard of Barbara Elliott, a neighbour whose home is one of six in the Allens’ cul-de-sac that has been decorated for Brody.

Brody Allen celebrates Christmas in Colerain Township, Ohio, Sept 14, 2018. Brody, 2, has a form of cancer too aggressive to treat any longer, so his family decided the holiday season should come early to his house, and his neighbours followed suit, with decorations, lights, gifts, and a parade that will feature Santa Claus, carollers and superheroes. Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times

Brody’s family first learned he was sick after he complained in May about being dizzy; a doctor said it was probably an ear infection. The family was sent to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center for further tests, which revealed that Brody had four embryonal tumours with multi-layered rosettes.

The hospital, which has helped pay medical bills that Medicaid does not cover, gave Brody the most aggressive chemotherapy treatment it could.

It was not effective. One of Brody’s tumours grew by 30 percent, and he developed a fifth tumour in his brain. Using radiation to treat the tumours was not an option because Brody was too small.

Bailey Allen holds her brother Brody as the family celebrates Christmas in Colerain Township, Ohio, Sept 14, 2018. Brody, 2, has a form of cancer too aggressive to treat any longer, so the holiday season came early to his house and throughout his neighbourhood, with decorations, lights, gifts, and a parade that will feature Santa Claus, carollers and superheroes. Maddie McGarvey/The New York Times

There were no other options for Brody. So the family set out to keep him happy.

The Allens settled on having Christmas in September for Brody, but soon realized they needed more decorations. There aren’t many for sale in September, so they started a Facebook page called Team Brody and asked neighbours for help.

The community is now planning a Christmas parade for Brody.

The parade is scheduled for Sept 23 and will feature Santa Claus in a fire truck, carollers and superheroes. Some people just want to drive their cars in the procession.