‘It makes it a little easier’:Pediatric cancer patients celebrate the season at Holiday Extravaganza

Making memories during the holidays and time with loved ones is easy to take for granted. But for families of pediatric cancer patients, there is a newfound appreciation for every moment. “So she’s 3 and a half years old now. She was diagnosed with leukemia at 18 months,” said Cameron Jackowiak, of his daughter Lily, “She never really lets her slow down, and Christmas is still her favorite season of the year.” .” The Jackowiak family joined dozens of other patients and their loved ones for a Holiday Extravaganza Thursday night. From Christmas karaoke to chats with Santa, a candy cane track and comfort food, the event was full of fun. For the past three years, Fusion Medical Staffing has transformed its office into a winter wonderland for pediatric cancer patients. It is a collaboration with Angels Among Us, which financially supports these young people and their families. Each group even gets presents in their trunks, allowing parents to take one thing off the plate and families to enjoy an evening together.” No one thinks their vacation will be different next year, but anything can happen in a year “And our families, you know, when their child gets cancer, their world stops. They don’t want to think about the holidays. They don’t want to think about how to pay the bills. They just want their child better,” said Aly Theilan, with Angels Among Us, “This holiday party just gives them something to get out of their heads.” For mother-daughter duo Alexus and Jamie Mathis, this group feels like home. “It’s our other family,” Jamie said. This holiday season was difficult for Alexus and her mother. “She is in her fourth battle with cancer,” said Jamie, “I think this time of year is the hardest time to deal with the relapse and try to maneuver what the next few months will be for us. ” Alexus has some sort of Christmas bucket list, watching a new holiday movie every night, tickets to Manheim Steamroller, and giving gifts to kids on the Pine Ridge Reservation. “I thought it would be nice because I got a lot to give back to others,” said Alexus. After celebrating with the same group for the past three years, the holiday extravaganza is a Christmas tradition in its own right for Alexus and Jamie “The memories of these holidays and the moments with those they love are a cherished gift for the Mathis family. They should be cheered up,” Alexus said. If you would like to donate to Angels Among Us, click here.

OMAHA, Neb. —

Making memories during the holidays and time with loved ones is easy to take for granted.

But for families of pediatric cancer patients, there is a newfound appreciation for every moment.

“So she’s 3 and a half years old now. She was diagnosed with leukemia at 18 months,” said Cameron Jackowiak, of his daughter Lily, “She never really lets her slow down, and Christmas is still her favorite season of the year.” .”

The Jackowiak family joined dozens of other patients and their loved ones for a Holiday Extravaganza Thursday night.

From Christmas karaoke to chats with Santa, a candy cane track and comfort food, the event was full of fun.

For the past three years, Fusion Medical Staffing has transformed its office into a winter wonderland for pediatric cancer patients.

It is a collaboration with Angels Among Us, which financially supports these young people and their families.

Each group even gets presents in their trunk, allowing parents to take one thing off the plate and families to enjoy an evening together.

“Nobody thinks their vacation will be different next year, but anything can happen in a year. And our families, you know, when their child is diagnosed with cancer, their world stops. They don’t want to think about it They don’t want to think about how to pay the bills. They just want to make their kid better,” said Aly Theilan of Angels Among Us, “This party just gives them something to get out of their heads.”

For mother-daughter duo Alexus and Jamie Mathis, this group feels like coming home.

“It’s our other family,” Jamie said.

These holidays were difficult for Alexus and her mother.

“She is in her fourth battle with cancer,” Jamie said. “I think this time of year is the hardest time to deal with the downturn and try to maneuver what the coming months will be for us.”

Alexus has some sort of Christmas bucket list, watching a new holiday movie every night, tickets to Manheim Steamroller, and giving gifts to kids on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

“I thought it would be nice, since I’ve been given a lot, to give back to others,” Alexus said.

After celebrating with the same group for the past three years, the extravagant Christmas is a Christmas tradition of its own for Alexus and Jamie.

The memories of these holidays and the moments with those they love are a cherished gift for the Mathis family.

“It makes it a little easier to know that you have a kind of second family that you can rely on and that they can cheer you up when you need to be cheered up,” Alexus said.

If you would like to donate to Angels Among Us, click here.