Volunteers Deliver Presents and Support for Beverly Firefighter and Family in Cancer Fight

Steve “Norm” Spreitzer and his wife, Katie, were like any other young couple with a growing family in their West Beverly neighborhood. Norm, a veteran Chicago firefighter, earned the rank of lieutenant a few years ago and traveled between fire houses. Katie was promoted to principal of Dist. 123’s Hometown Elementary School and was working toward her doctorate degree. Their lives were full with three young daughters.

Then one day this fall their world came crashing down: Norm was diagnosed with cyto cutaneous lymphoma. Their lives came to a halt as Norm and Katie learned everything they could about the disease. Norm began a grueling regimen of cancer treatments at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Through it all, their good neighbors in West Beverly weren’t going to let the Spreitzer family go through it alone. Neighbors helped with meals and rides to the hospital. The volunteers from Christmas Without Cancer didn’t forget the family either. On Sunday, a cadre of volunteers and Chicago firefighters from the Mt. Greenwood firehouse delivered bags of Christmas gifts for Norm and Katie and their daughters, Lily, 12, Ava, 11, and Margot, 8.

“This is beyond phenomenal,” Norm said, who surprised his wife by coming home last Friday after a month at the hospital. “The prayers, the support and now this, it’s working.”

The Spreitzers are one of 27 families being visited by Christmas Without Cancer this holiday season, a grassroots organization that brings comfort and joy to local families facing cancer over the holidays. The organization was founded in the early 2000s by Gerri Neylon, an oncology nurse at Advocate Christ Medical Center.

Moved by the struggles of families undergoing cancer treatment and the toll it took on them emotionally, physically and financially, the Evergreen Park woman quietly began adopting families around the holidays, encouraging her friends to chip in for presents and gifts cards for gasoline and groceries.

In addition to Christmas gifts, the organization helps families pay their utility bills and other expenses during the family member's cancer treatment. Neylon said one of the most frequent requests her group has fielded this year is help with health insurance payments.

“With cancer there is always a loss of income,” Neylon said. “We’ve had a lot of requests for help with tuition and COBRA payments. It’s sad that there are people in this country who can’t afford to pay their health insurance.”

The Spreitzer girls were allowed to open one gift; the rest went under the tree until Christmas morning. Lily screamed when she opened a Sno-Cone maker. Each member of the family received presents.

“Next year, we’ll be with you,” Katie said. “We’re going to pay it forward.”

Christmas Without Cancer accepts cash or check donations, gift cards, toys for children or specific need items identified and listed on the CWC website.