Young cancer survivor from Canonsburg to light PPG Place Holiday Tree
A 10-year-old Canonsburg girl who survived cancer will light the PPG Holiday Tree in downtown Pittsburgh as part of Pittsburgh鈥檚 Light Up Night.
Braelyn Gordon, who was diagnosed with astroblastoma of her spinal cord at age 7, will flip the switch on the official 鈥淗oliday Tree鈥� in the middle of the ice skating rink at PPG Place during the annual American Cancer Society Tribute of Light Celebration. It鈥檚 part of Pittsburgh鈥檚 Light Up Night festivities, which are scheduled for Saturday.
The event begins at 4:30 p.m., with Braelyn lighting the tree at 6.
鈥淟ighting the tree this year means so much to Braelyn and our family as a whole because it means we are blessed enough to spend another Christmas with her in remission,鈥� said Nautica Brooks, Braelyn鈥檚 mother.
Braelyn is a fifth-grader at Cecil Intermediate School in the Canon-McMillan School District.
Her cancer was discovered after she had become slightly paralyzed in her lower extremities. Surgery, radiation, rehabilitation, and therapy at UPMC Children鈥檚 Hospital in Pittsburgh helped Braelyn to regain her mobility.
Her family thought Braelyn鈥檚 battle with cancer was behind her until she started to experience headaches and nosebleeds.
鈥淲e thought we were in the clear. She spent two months in Children鈥檚 rehab center, and when she was released we did all of the outpatient therapy for one or two years,鈥� said Nautica. 鈥淪he hit all her milestones, but then they discovered a mass on her frontal lobe.鈥�
More tests showed that the cancer had returned, this time in her brain.
Additional surgery and radiation followed.
鈥淭he whole time she was going through it, she was optimistic. She was unstoppable,鈥� said Nautica. 鈥淪he did TikToks, made friends with therapists, and stayed positive.鈥�
She is currently in remission.
And the family is looking forward to the tree lighting.
鈥淪he is so excited. There are so many people who are going to watch her light it,鈥� said Nautica, with a laugh. 鈥淐hristmas is one of our favorite holidays at our house, and we鈥檙e really looking forward to it this year.鈥�
In the annual Tribute of Light Celebration, volunteers carry lit tributes to honor cancer patients and survivors, their caregivers and families and those who have lost their battle to the disease. They鈥檒l encircle the rink before Braelyn lights the tree.
Erika Jay from Q92.9 FM will serve as emcee for the tree-lighting events.
Entertainment by Natalie鈥檚 School of Champion Baton Twirlers, skaters from the RMU Island Sport Center Figure Skating Academy, and a special vocal performance by local artist Olivia Sperber will follow Jay鈥檚 opening remarks.
Braelyn and her family will then take to the stage to officially kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the tree. Following the tree lighting, there will be an open skate.
Anyone who wants to purchase a tribute in advance of Saturday鈥檚 Tribute of Light Celebration can visit https://tinyurl.com/TOLpittsburgh25. A limited number of tributes will be available for purchase the evening of the event.