Community Grants Dying Boy's Holiday Dreams

Ethan Van Leuven wearing his Halloween costume 

Most children are out and about trick-or-treating in their favorite costumes today. Yet, these children don't understand that trick-or-treating is a privilege, an opportunity many children unfortunately miss out on. Ethan Van Leuven, a 4-year-old who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 2, feared he wouldn't live to celebrate Halloween this year. Recently, Ethan stopped responding to his cancer treatment. Merrill Van Leuven, Ethan's father, recounted the moment when he heard the horrible news: "The doctors basically said he's got two days to a couple of weeks left to live." Yet, Merrill Van Leuven wanted to make the last few days of Ethan's incredibly short life his best. He gathered support from his entire community in Utah. Together, they provided Ethan with the wonderful joys in life he otherwise wouldn't have been able to experience.

On October 21st, Ethan celebrated Halloween. All across the Van Leuven's neighborhood of West Jordan, children dressed up in their favorite costumes, willing to participate in early trick-or-treating so that 4-year-old Ethan could enjoy the holiday. Unfortunately, Ethan passed away a week later on Tuesday, October 28th. At least he had the chance to celebrate an early Christmas and birthday with his family before his life was cut short. Although it is very difficult to hear about Ethan losing his fight to Leukemia, I admire the Van Leuvens' decision to focus less on the inevitability of Ethan's death and more on enjoying the time they had left with him. The West Jordan community also provided incredible support.

I can't imagine what I would've felt if I had discovered that someone I loved had only a few days to a few weeks left to live. I just hope I would handle the news similarly to the way the Van Leuvens dealt with Ethan's situation. Hopefully, as time goes on, fewer people will be delivered this horrible diagnosis. Yet, at the moment, "cancer remains the second most common cause of death in the US, accounting for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths." We need to find a way to lower this number. No one should have to undergo what 4-year-old Ethan and his family experienced.