Ohio Community Celebrates Christmas Early for Terminally Ill Toddler

Christmas has come early for an Ohio toddler with cancer who likely won't live to see the holiday.

Brody Allen, 2, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in May. After undergoing chemotherapy, doctors found that his tumors had grown.

In August, the Cincinnati toddler was given two months to live and his family is trying to make the most of that time. 

So they've taken him pumpkin picking and celebrated his March birthday early. And now, Christmas has arrived in their town.

“His favorite holiday is Christmas," Brody’s sister, McKenzie Allen, told InsideEdition.com. "He loves Christmas lights. We were going to decorate, but we didn’t have outdoor lights. So we put a post out asking for donations and it has exploded."

Donations of lights and other Christmas cheer poured in as a result, and on Monday, the family decorated the outside of their house, with the help of neighbors, for Brody to see.

“He loved it," Allen said. "We brought him out in his wagon. He looked up and he was like ‘Wow.' He was so excited. He looked up at the lights for about 45 minutes. He didn’t want to go inside that night."

And the community has gotten in on the Christmas spirit as well, decorating their own homes to celebrate an early Christmas for Brody. 

Allen says their family takes Brody on walks at night to see all the lights.

"There are people all over the place sending pictures of their lights," Allen said. "It’s beautiful. It’s amazing."

He's also received presents and cards from people across the world.

And though vandals attempted to sour Brody's celebration by stabbing an inflatable Santa, neighbors swooped in to fix the decoration. 

"Well, on our watch, that isn't going to happen," said neighbor Perry Mattan. "And we're not doing it for recognition, we're just doing it because it needed to be done, and I want that little boy's time remaining to be happy."

Since his cancer has progressed, Brody can no longer walk and eats through a feeding tube. However, Allen said the support from others has turned an extremely difficult time into something positive. 

“Every one that’s doing this — it’s just amazing. It gives us hope and strength," Allen said. “This is a terrible time. My baby brother is sick and he is dying. I wish I could heal him and take all his pain but the community is also taking away our pain and making us feel like we’re not alone."

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