Town Rallies to Celebrate Christmas Early for Toddler Battling Cancer

We have a few more months until Christmas, but the holiday spirit of giving back is in full-force for one Ohio town.

Shilo and Todd Allen were given a prognosis no parent ever wants to hear: Cancer. At just two-years-old, their son, Brody, was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer and given only two months to live.

The heartbreaking news hit the Ohio couple hard, but they were determined to make sure the next few months of their son’s life would be the very best. For that, Christmas needed to come early.

The couple called on their Adair community to help them celebrate the holidays, and the town did not let them down. People close to the family, as well as many who had never crossed paths with them before, banned together, offering decorations, gifts, cards, and some even decking out their own homes.

Greg Insco—a member of the community who heard about the Allens’ wishes at a town meeting—shared the inspiring story on Facebook, describing it as, “the most incredible thing you’ll read today.”

When Insco went to drop off a few donations at the house, he was shocked at what he found.

“I stopped by last night to drop off some presents and a Christmas card signed by everyone at our trustee meeting. To my surprise, the neighbors’ houses were lit up too! There’s something amazingly beautiful and comforting about Christmas lights and crickets in September,” he says.

Although they were virtually strangers, the Allens welcomed Insco into their home with the warmth of good friends.

“I saw a family living every parent’s nightmare in real time, ironically at their best, making the most out of every second,” Insco shares. “The love I saw is impossible to put into words. You just have to see it to believe it. If you want goosebumps, go drive down Adair. It’s special.”

The man was so touched by the family’s story, he called on his friends and followers to learn more about Brody through his GoFundMe page. After hearing how much the toddler loves receiving mail, Insco pledged to send him notes and called on others to do the same.

“This family is incredible. It’s easy to be inspired by their strength,” he says.

Brody’s father has been updating the Team Brody Facebook page frequently, and his recent note relays just how much the community’s support means to his family.

“We are overwhelmed by the kindness, compassion and outright love perfect strangers have shown us,” the dad says. “So much of society is geared towards promoting the negative. It’s easy to believe that that’s all we are… We are grateful beyond measure for all of you and we will never forget it.”