Christmas Without Cancer Delivers Holiday Miracles

BEVERLY-MT. GREENWOOD (CHICAGO, IL) -- For a few moments on Saturday, Katie Gaskin was able to forget about her 6-year-old son’s devastating cancer diagnosis and focus on Christmas, as a group of superheroes delivered armloads of presents for the entire family.

Christmas Without Cancer, an Evergreen Park group that endeavors to deliver holiday cheer and support to families with loved ones battling cancer throughout the south suburbs, showed up on Gaskin’s front lawn with the Mother McAuley High School choir, a Chicago fire truck, and, of course, Santa Claus.

Gaskin’s son, Anthony Pappalas, is undergoing treatment for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a disease that strikes at the heart of childhood.

A single mom of three boys, Gaskin and her family were shocked to learn six months ago Anthony had an aggressive tumor growing at the base of his brain.

“The moment I first met Katie I thought she was something special,” said Gerri Neylon, an oncological nurse at Advocate Christ Medical Center and founder of Christmas Without Cancer. “Within hours after her little boy had his diagnosis, Katie and her family took control of the situation. I’m amazed at how strong she is. She’s very stoic, ‘this is what I got, this is what I have to deal with, and this is what I’m going to do.’”

Gaskin, Anthony, and his brothers, Luke, 7, and 3-year-old Danny, were the first stop of a dozen families that Christmas Without Cancer delivered presents to this holiday season.

Between Anthony’s treatments, Gaskin has continued to teach school and run a household as a single mom. Like Emily Beazley, Anthony’s Mt. Greenwood neighbors have rallied around him, forming Anthony’s Avengers, which continues to raise money for the boy’s medical costs and other household expenses.

“This is our big deal,” Neylon said. “This is what we fundraise for all year long. We do a lot over the holidays for families fighting cancer. The remainder is spread out throughout the year for the patient’s medicine, groceries and utility bills.”

As an oncological nurse, Neylon has seen firsthand the financial hit that families take when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Income is lost, utility bills fall behind, and the family’s whole lifestyle changes overnight.

“There is always a loss of income. In most families both parents work,” the Evergreen Park nurse said. “A dad or mom with cancer has to stop working. They’re not doing daily activities and it’s hard to be a parent.”

Neighbors applauded when Gaskin and the boys came out to see the high school carolers. Firefighters lined both sides of walkway to the family’s front door. The Moraine Valley Community College fire and paramedic cadets also took part, carrying gifts into the family’s living room, along with the rest of the Christmas Without Cancer team.

“It was very emotional for me,” Neylon said. “When I was walking up to the house the carolers from Mother McAuley sounded like angels. It was beautiful. You get caught up in it. I was crying my eyes out. It brought such a spirituality and happiness to the day.”

As for Anthony’s most recent tests, he’s holding his own, enough that he’s been able to attend more days of kindergarten and wrestle on the lawn with his brother Luke.

In addition to the Gaskin-Pappalas family, Christmas Without Cancer also delivered presents to Evergreen Park-resident Susan Richmeier, who is battling Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

Neylon said Richmeier’s gift list was very humble -- a pizza oven and gift cards for her 12-year-old son, Oliver.

“He’s a very sweet boy and very musical. We paid for his music lessons for the next six months and their car insurance. We also gave them $500 to go to their utilities,” Neylon said.

Christmas Without Cancer’s next event is a float in the South Side Irish Parade. Donations are accepted year round. You can also keep up with CWC on Facebook.

“Our goal is to let our families enjoy each other at Christmas and not worry about medicine and tests,” Neylon said.

Photos: Anthony Pappalas, 6, (middle), and his brothers, Danny, 3, (left) and Luke, 7 (right), start opening presents before their mom, Katie Gaskin, had a chance to hide them. Mother McAuley carolers serenade the family; Gerri Neylon (middle) founder of Christmas Without Cancer, and her team.