Town Comes Together to Celebrate Christmas for One Little Boy Facing Death

For most young children, October means picking out pumpkins, going trick-or-treating, collecting candy and wearing costumes. It also signifies the start of a fun holiday season that includes Hanukkah or Christmas—depending on one’s beliefs—in December. What if you were the parents of a child with leukemia and had recently been given news that your child, who loves Halloween and Christmas, had days to weeks to live and might not live to be there for either of those holidays?

With their neighbors cheering for Ethan, his family pushed him around in a stroller, allowing his wish to be fully granted.

Ethan Van Leuven and family during early Halloween
(credit: business2community.com)

Fortunately, for the Van Leuvens of West Jordan, Utah, they had the entire support of their community who prepared a week filled with Halloween and Christmas celebrations, along with a birthday celebration for their son, Ethan. The community wanted Ethan, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 22 months, to be able to live his last days to the fullest. Tuesday October 21^st marked the beginning of the fun-filled holiday week. Ethan’s Halloween wish was to be able to go trick-or treating from door-to-door. With their neighbors cheering for Ethan, his family pushed him around in a stroller, allowing his wish to be fully granted.

Early Christmas celebration for Ethan Van Leuven in West Jordan, Utah
(credit: good4utah.com)

Come Wednesday, the town threw a big birthday bash for Ethan’s fifth, one month prior to his actual birthday. Thursday’s Christmas celebrations marked the grand culmination to the festivities, complete with carols sung and the lights in all houses hung. Santa even made an appearance. As Ethan’s mother, Jennifer, told Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, he “looked forward to Christmas since last Christmas.” A family friend, Becky Papenfuss, added, “It’s been a choice experience. It’s been an honor. We love them. We love him.”

Ethan Van Leuven and his parents
(credit: inquisitr.com)

His community gathered together seamlessly to celebrate a brave little boy, and his family, demonstrating how deeply love can flow among people, regardless of their blood connections.

Sadly, Ethan died five days later on October 28^th.  His community gathered together seamlessly to celebrate a brave little boy, and his family, demonstrating how deeply love can flow among people, regardless of their blood connections. Helping a family dealing with impending loss by celebrating those bittersweet final holidays can result in the lasting precious gift of memories filled with much love.

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