Westlake Neighbors Rally Around Dying Boy To Give Him A Special Christmas
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WESTLAKE (1080 KRLD) - Eight years old, a wrestler and with dreams of becoming a chemist, Kim Davidson knows the strength of her son, Sawyer.
"He's a fighter. He's an awesome kid," she gushed.
But Davidson knows her son is in a fight he cannot win. Sawyer has Medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Recently, Sawyer's diagnosis took a turn for the worse and doctors told his family he may just have days to live.
"The growth of his tumors are outpacing the treatment, unfortunately. It's just not working fast enough," said Davidson. "He's on hospice now."
"It's incredibly difficult and painful on many levels. Not just as a parent, but for him. The change in his lifestyle."
But while the Davidsons' were working to grapple with the news about Sawyer, their neighbors on their small cul-de-sac in Westlake sprang into action.
"They were trying really hard to find something to do for Sawyer. He can't walk so he can't really play with toys or go places. So they thought something he would love is to turn our front yard into a winter wonderland with Christmas lights," Davidson said joyfully.
She said one neighbor told another and before long the Year-Round Christmas Lights Company got involved and the Davidsons' front yard was sparkling. Sawyer, who's sensitive to light, wanted to stay outside all day and even got a surprise visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
"It was really great to spend the day with everyone and for them to spend it with Sawyer," said Davidson.
"I wish we could all be this kind to each other even without cancer. I hope our community, in Sawyer's honor, shares the amount of kindness that has been contributed because it's amazing."
Davidson said everyday is unknown, and there is a chance Sawyer may not make it to Christmas. But while her family prepares, she said there are messages and lessons she wants others to learn from her family's experience.
"Don't sweat the small stuff. It's obvious, but before Sawyer got sick I was running around obsessing about matching outfits for my kids for our Christmas pictures instead of spending time playing with them," she said.
Then, through tears, "I would just say time with your kids is more important than stuff... I wish I had done that more."
Davidson said she also wants Sawyer's journey to help bring awareness to the reality of childhood cancer.
"Turning sadness into action and trying to do something about pediatric cancer funding. What these kids have to go through, it's just not fair."
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