Manhattan Boy, 4, Treated To Lights Surprise, 'Magic' Before His Eyes

MANHATTAN, IL — Kaylee Blevins hopes some day, her son will realize just how much it all meant.

The fire trucks pulling up to their Manhattan home, the volunteers filing out and setting in motion a stunning display of compassion and holiday cheer—it might all be too much for 4-year-old Wyatt to understand in the moment, she says, but it was all for him.

"Magic happening right in front of their eyes," said Blevins. "This is something kids talk about forever."

Firetrucks lined Eastern Avenue outside their home Saturday, Dec. 9. Firefighters spilled out of engines with what seemed to be a pretty seamless plan of attack—grab the Tupperwares, sort the string lights, hang the ornaments on tree branches, get the extension cords ready. It was sirens flashing, ladder up to reach the roof of the family's home. There were few idle hands as they responded to this very important call. Christmas music blared, as family and friends watched the operation in motion.

The evening was part of Finley Forever Foundation's "Lights and Ladders Brigade," an organized effort to plot a course to decorate the homes of families fighting illness during the holidays. Finley Forever Founder Dan Bracken started the foundation, and later the brigade, following the Sept. 2020 death of his 2-year-old daughter Finley, less than a year after she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma. Firefighters from across three states volunteer their time to decorate the homes of multiple recipients. This was the brigade's second year expanding to the Lincoln-Way area, and even Santa made an appearance.

"I’ll remember it forever," Blevins said of the evening.

The event was a bright spot in what's been a challenging two years for Wyatt. In September 2021 at not year 2 years old, his health began suspiciously declining. He suffered fevers intermittently, and a decreased appetite, followed by vomiting, according to his story as told to Alex's Lemonade Stand. He was rushed to the ER, where his family was told his hemoglobin level was critically low at 2.1. He was then taken to Ann & Robert H. Lurie's Children's Hospital in Chicago, where he was admitted to the ICU for blood transfusions. He was then diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The diagnosis led to daily chemotherapies and frequent spinal taps, Blevins said.

"That was rough," Blevins said, "because he's so little and doesn’t understand."

Wyatt hit a milestone on Nov. 9, just days after turning 4 years old. He completed his treatment.

"Finally after two long years of treatment," Blevins said, "He was able to ring the bell right before Christmas."

He's officially in remission, she added, though it will be years before it can be said he's cured. He'll endure blood draws every two months, as well as an echocardiogram to ensure the chemo didn't impact his heart. A rash covers his body, as he detoxes from the chemo drugs that had coursed through his body. He remains on antibiotics as his immune system recovers. They hope his bones strengthen and that his body rebounds from the impact of two years of intense treatment.

"He’s a trooper," Blevins said, of her resilient son. "He doesn’t let it get to him. He doesn’t complain much, he just kinda lives his life."

The Lights and Ladders Brigade spotlight fell on the Blevins family, with Wyatt and his older sister Haven opening presents and coloring alongside Project Fire Buddies and Wyatt's very own Fire Buddy Dylan Ledvina, of the Manhattan Fire Protection District. Nonprofit Project Fire Buddies is a volunteer-led effort by local fire departments to show support for children battling critical illness. Started in Oak Forest in 2016, the group's momentum continues to grow, expanding now to different departments including south suburban Oak Lawn, Palos, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Midlothian, Homewood, Lockport, Lemont, New Lenox, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Plainfield, Matteson, University Park, and Country Club Hills. It's grown even beyond Illinois, now notching 82 chapters through four states.

Wyatt seemed almost unaware that he was the center of attention Saturday—Ledvina and 50 other volunteers were all there to celebrate him.

"I don’t think Wyatt understands the extent of, 'I had cancer,'" Blevins said. "My daughter understands—they’re here for us."

Bracken remembers what it feels like to be in the thick of such stress during what's supposed to be a cheerful season. It can be impossible to muster that optimism.

"When we were going through our battle with cancer, my dad and brother came over and forcefully made us decorate the house," Bracken told Patch previously.. "It was in November, it's the last thing a family's worried about, is decorating the house, when you're dealing with this.

"... Money's great, emotional support's great, food trains are great—everything's great—but what can we do that takes a burden off the family? You never know when your last Christmas will be."

The brigade functions solely from donations as well as sales of yard signs, sponsorships, and themed merchandise. In total, this year they raised $40,000 for the project, also visiting South Side homes on Dec. 2. This year, the brigade decorated 13 homes. Every bit of money raised is given right back to the families involved.

"We help every family out with their electrical bill, because lights are very expensive," Bracken said. "Everything we bring in, is put right back out."

Saturday's decorating crew came from departments including Oak Lawn, Posen, Garden Homes, Calumet City, Chicago, New Lenox, Mokena, Frankfort, Manhattan, Flossmoor, Country Club Hills, East St. Louis, St. Louis, and Milwaukee, to name a few, Bracken said. The campaign also gets a major boost from donors such as Alsip Home and Nursery and Home Depot.

"For me personally, it’s taking away that 'unknown,'" Bracken said. "They probably never would have had the time to do this. It’s being able to show up, put some lights up have all my family friends, complete strangers bring the community together. Hang the lights, and leave them with this forever. It’s theirs."

A Home Depot store located in Alsip joined this year's brigade, pitching in $5,000 and also stopping by to witness the magic.

"It’s a worthy cause," said Armondo Garcia, of Home Deport. "We’re happy we got involved in it, we’ll be involved next year, as well, and hopefully it just keeps getting bigger and bigger."Garcia first met the Bracken family when Dan and Lacey were shopping for supplies the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Garcia is modest about how much they helped, Bracken said.

"We bought so much stuff that we had to rent a box truck to bring it back," Bracken said, laughing. "It was awesome."

Garcia even let them buy a floor display—a giant, animated Grinch that now lives at the home of an Oak Lawn Lights and Ladders recipient.

"The little boy was just enamored," Bracken said. "They were second to none."

Garcia said they're happy to be a part of it.

"That’s what we’re about—giving back to the community."After the holidays have wrapped, each recipient gets to keep all the decorations, Bracken noted. The brigade means so much to Bracken.

"It’s so cool," Bracken said, "... just to see everybody out here, truly because it's the right thing to do, no other reason."

Providing support for families in a position he remembers so clearly is invaluable to him—even if it means his own house gets put on the back burner.

"They don’t have to worry about it," Bracken said, of helping the families. "It’s an easy thing to do—except for at your own house."

He laughed.

"... I’m still decorating our house."

Blevins and her husband Doug enjoyed every second.

"It was a lot of fun," Blevins said. "It was a good way to celebrate him ringing the bell."

She hopes it'll really sink in for Wyatt, in time.

"I don’t think he knew the extent of how crazy it was going to be," she said, of the night's flurry of activities. "It was one of those moments that they’re going to remember, and get to talk about."

Wyatt's busy getting back to the everyday business of being a kid, Blevins said. He loves playing Avengers, and especially enjoys pretending he's Iron Man. He loves playing with Haven, going for walks, and being with his family. Wyatt and Haven regularly break out in dance parties, often putting on concerts for Blevins before bedtime; Kelly Clarkson is usually their singer of choice.

He relishes in the attention of the Project Fire Buddies program, and says he wants to be a Fire Buddy when he grows up, she said. She can only hope all the family has been through—and the compassion shown to them—stick with her children, in a positive way.

"I hope one day this experience helps them have that level of compassion for others," she said. "That they see the good from these foundations—how much joy it brought them—and they’ll want to do that for others."