A tight-knit Maryland community came together to give a little girl who has been battling terminal cancer for years a spirited summertime Christmas celebration.
Kasey Zachmann, 9, of Bethesda, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer called medulloblastoma when she was five years old.
After years of grueling surgeries, trials, and rounds of chemo and radiation, her parents, Alyssa and Joe, received heartbreaking news from her doctors on June 23.
Doctors said Kasey’s cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and she may only have a few weeks to live.
Learning what no parent ever wants to hear, Alyssa and Joe were determined to make sure their daughter spends her time joyfully and surrounded by loved ones.
And with Kasey’s diagnosis day, June 28, just days away at the time, they planned to turn the glum anniversary into Kasey’s favorite holiday – Christmas Day.
‘I was trying to think of fun things that we could do for Kasey to build memories,’ Alyssa told Bethesda Magazine.
‘So we thought it would be amazing to give her the chance to celebrate Christmas one last time.’
Her immediately parents reached out to their neighbors, asking for them to decorate their homes with Christmas lights.
Kasey Zachmann (middle), 9, of Bethesda, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer called medulloblastoma when she was five years old
Kasey, wearing a Nutcracker-themed dress, smiled as she enjoyed the day with other kids in her neighborhood and her sister, Zara. She also received cards and gifts
‘This week will be incredibly hot and not the best climate for putting up lights, but we’re not sure how much time we have,’ the Zachmanns wrote to their neighbors, NBC reported.
Despite the scorching heat and humidity, hundreds of community members happily complied with the festive request.
As neighbors decked the town with lights and wore Christmas-themed outfits, 25 firetrucks drove over to the Zachmann’s house – bringing Santa along with them.
Kasey, wearing a Nutcracker-themed dress, smiled as she enjoyed the day with other kids in her neighborhood and her sister, Zara. She also received cards and gifts.
She and her family made sure to drive by each and every house that participated to show their gratitude.
‘It was magical. We tried to get to every single house, so it took us two hours to drive around,’ Alyssa told Bethesda Magazine, noting that some people were standing in the rain when they arrived.
What started as an email to those living nearby blew up into an event spanning 11 neighborhoods along the DC-Maryland border, according to The Washington Post.
Learning what no parent ever wants to hear, Alyssa (pictured with Kasey) and Joe were determined to make sure their daughter spends her time joyfully and surrounded by loved ones
What started as an email to those living nearby blew up into an event spanning 11 neighborhoods along the DC-Maryland border
This diagnosis day turned holiday party was even celebrated nationally, with people from all 50 states sending in videos to wish Kasey a merry Christmas.
‘June 28 for us has been diagnosis day, has been a heavy day for us,’ Alyssa told NBC.
‘For us to now be able to think about June 28 as Christmas in June, especially next year, we’re so thankful.’