'It Means The World': New Lenox Mom In Cancer Fight Treated To Lights

NEW LENOX, IL — Tears pooled in Jamie Scott-Galan's eyes, as the newly hung lights on her house reflected back in them.

The year hasn't exactly been kind to the 42-year-old mother of two. Lights strung across the roof of her New Lenox home brought her a soft, glowing comfort. Now fighting two kinds of cancer, it's a much-needed bright spot in 2023.

"It’s been a really rough year for our family," Jamie tells Patch. "... It’s been very, very hard. But look at the support that we have. We have wonderful family and friends, and we couldn’t get through this alone. This is just so hard."

Firetrucks lined Anderson Road 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.

"It means the world to us," Jamie said. "We don’t have the time, and we wouldn’t have had the energy.

"It’s just bright, and cheery, and hopeful. It’s beautiful. This means so much to us."

Mom to Lincoln-Way Central grad and now Grace College freshman Eliana, and 2-year-old Vinnie, Jamie and husband Paul tried to conceive again shortly after his birth.

"He was a complete surprise," Jamie said, "and we didn’t want him to grow up alone, so we tried right away and got pregnant right away."

Jamie in January lost their second daughter, after hemorrhaging when the fetus was 20 weeks old. She was then subsequently diagnosed with cervical cancer.

"They started treatment immediately," Jamie said. "I almost died multiple times. It was really rough."

In June 2023, a PET scan came back clear of cancer. A September scan would not be so lucky. At the six-month mark, Jamie's cancer had returned. A mammogram and other scans would reveal that she also has stage zero breast cancer. A port was placed and a treatment regimen started immediately.

An RN at Silver Cross Hospital, Jamie talks clearly and succinctly about what she's going through, her voice only breaking when she speaks about her family.

"It’s been very, very hard," she said. "But look at the support that we have. We have wonderful family and friends, and we couldn’t get through this alone. This is just so hard."

Bracken remembers what it feels like to be staring down such a grim situation 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."

Daughter Eliana said the gesture means more to her family than she can explain.

"It’s really nice to have everyone be so giving," she said. "We’re just so appreciative.

The relief of having decorations despite the lack of time and funds to hang them has lifted their spirits, as Jamie continues to fight.

"She takes it day by day, but she does it in the best way she can—she pushes through," Eliana said. "Sometimes she has her hard days, and can’t do anything, and some days she has her good days, and she’s trying to go to the store.

"She’s trying to get through it, every day. She’s been really strong about it. I’m just really proud of her. I’m always rooting for her."

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."

Paul Scott-Galan, 40, was touched by the show of support from the organization, and also the community. A GoFundMe for the family has also raised $24,000.

"For this to be done for us—words can’t describe it," he said. "It instantly brings tears to our eyes to see the community come together, and to have everyone participate to help us out.

"To see everyone come together for Jamie, it breaks my heart, in a good way," Paul said.

"She’s handled it like a champion. ... She puts us first, and our kids, and that’s what she keeps fighting for. That is her fuel to keep going—us and the kids. She’s taken it so well. I do whatever I can to support her. Every day, she fights and fights. You don’t know you have a support system until you see all this, and it blows your mind."

As crews decorated their home, Jamie and son Vinnie visited with Santa, sharing in his fun as he opened a present.

"I’m trying to stay positive and just keep fighting for my children," she said. "I just want nothing more than time with my kids."