Make A Wish, Baldermann Help Bryce Get Backyard Pool

NEW LENOX, IL — In times of need, the village of New Lenox comes together and finds a way to get things done. This time around, they're coming through for a 3-year-old boy battling leukemia by making his big wish — a swimming pool of his own — come true.

On Friday, Michelle Sykora posted a message in one of the New Lenox Facebook forums informing everyone about her son's situation and asking for some help. She let everyone know that Make A Wish is providing her son, Bryce, with a swimming pool in the near future. "We are looking for someone to fill the pool for us. A lot of the time they use fire trucks, but our wish coordinator said the local fire department is unable to fill it," Sykora wrote.

She asked for recommendations on Friday. By early afternoon, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann had entered the discussion.

The mayor responded to the New Lenox woman's original message, informing her, "I just spoke with our fire chief. He found a company that will donate the truck and manpower. The village will donate the water. The fire department can't use their truck because there are chemicals in their truck hose that could damage the liner."

Baldermann went on to assure the mother that the fire chief will coordinate the local effort.

"My thoughts are with you and your family," he posted. "Please let me know if you need anything else."

New Lenox Patch spoke with Sykora later in the afternoon. She said the arrival of the swimming pool through Make A Wish is still being finalized. She said she is hoping it arrives in the next week or so, but the arrival date is still not set in stone.

A May event called Brave for Bryce was held in the toddler's honor at The Studio on West Maple Road. "Bryce Sykora is a intelligent, clever, and fun 3-year-old," according to the Studio's website. "He loves books, learning new things, playing with toy cars, and chasing after his one-year old sister, Lilah. Bryce likes decorating cupcakes and takes great pride in helping his dad with projects around the house. Bryce should be looking forward to a summer of visiting children’s museums, riding his scooter, and running through the sprinkler with his dog. Instead he’s facing a three-year treatment plan that has him visiting the hospital often for numerous rounds of chemotherapy, tests, and procedures."

A YouCaring.com campaign called Bryce's Fight Against Leukemia is also raising money to help Bryce's family.

Mayor Baldermann told Patch that village officials want to do whatever they can to help Bryce and his family fulfill the Make A Wish. "This is a boy that is suffering from leukemia, and we want to try and bring as much joy as we can to this boy's life."

Image of Bryce Sykora used with permission