Kings Park House Lights Up To Help Resident Battling Cancer

KINGS PARK, NY — A Kings Park family is using their brilliantly decorated home to help a fellow resident who is battling late stage colon cancer.

John and Andrea Esposito transformed their 8 Colby Drive home into the Colby Christmas House, a holiday attraction. The family is accepting donations for Christie Garrecht, 33, who is battling late stage colon cancer.

The display is up and running Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. The attraction is open now through Dec. 31. Santa Claus is set to make an appearance on Dec. 14, with a Dec. 15 rain date.

Donations can be made through a donation bucket at the house or on Venmo @ChristiesFightFund.

Garrecht is a pediatric occupational therapist who worked in home care with medically fragile children, including children with cancer, before she went on leave following her diagnosis.

"As someone who is called Christie Claus by her medically fragile patients, this event means the world to me," Garrecht told Patch. "Christmas is always a special time of the year for me to bring joy to others, but this year, it’s reversed. I’m so blessed to have the support of John and Andrea of the Colby House and the rest of Kings Park behind me during this fight. It reminds me I am not alone."

The Espositos have decorated their home for more than a decade.

John said he met Garrecht through her father when he stopped by the Colby Christmas House a couple of months ago and explained how his daughter was sick. He told John how his daughter loved Christmas and visiting the Espositos' display.

"He knew that we raised money for various charities each year and asked if we would be willing to possibly put aside a night or so to help raise money for Christie," John said. "I spoke to a neighbor who actually was Christie’s teacher when she was in middle school and she told me what a wonderful person she is. Right after that I spoke to my wife and we both agreed that we should dedicate this whole season to help her."

Garrecht's recent treatment plan has led to severe complications, including near liver failure from her previous medications, her friends, Gabby Rogala and Pat Long, wrote on a GoFundMe for Garrecht. Chemotherapy was deemed necessary following multiple professional opinions.

People can donate to the GoFundMe for Garrecht here.