Cincinnati Cancer Patient Dies Months After Holiday Celebration

CINCINNATI, OH — When the parents of Easton Wilson learned that their young son likely only had a few months to live after he was diagnosed with bone cancer last year, they wanted to do everything they could to squeeze as much happiness into the time he had left on Earth.

In November, thanks to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, Easton and his family celebrated seven holidays in seven days, much to the delight of the boy from Milford, who turned 3 in February. Just months after Easton was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer in his knee, Easton and his family were able to celebrate his birthday, Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, the Fourth of July, Easter, Thanksgiving in a week’s time. To cap off the weeklong festivities, the family celebrated Christmas with a parade in Easton’s honor.

Sadly, Make-A-Wish-Foundation officials confirmed that Easton died Friday.

In an email to Patch on Monday, a Make-A-Wish-Foundation spokeswoman called Easton “an incredible boy who inspired people across his community and the entire country.” She said that after Easton made his holiday wishes known, more than 1,000 cards, letters and gifts were sent to a Cincinnati television station before the Christmas parade. More than 100 vehicles drove by the boy’s home in November as part of the holiday celebration.

“We are honored to have granted his wish, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Katie Ferrell, the marketing and communications manager for the Make-A-Wish-Foundation, wrote to Patch.

Easton’s mom, Tracy Wilson, told WLWTV in Cincinnati last year that her son was always a go-getter. But there came a day when he couldn’t put any weight on his legs. That came shortly after he fell while playing and hurt his knee at the family's home. At the time, Tracy didn’t think anything of it when Easton seemed to limp it off after crying for a bit.

Easton was fine for a few days before he fell again and then fell again while playing with friends. That's when Tracy's husband, Jerry, noticed their son’s knee was swollen, WLWTV reported.

After consulting with physicians, Easton’s parents were told of their son’s cancer diagnosis. Oncologists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital ordered a round of chemotherapy, which Tracy Wilson told the television station did not work. A follow-up PET scan showed that the cancer had spread to Easton’s lungs, his other knee, his shoulders and foot.

Given treatment options, the Wilsons tried another round of chemotherapy, which they hoped would — if nothing else — limit Easton’s pain. In November, they were told it would be a matter of weeks before oncologists could determine if the treatment was working. But with the cancer spreading, they couldn’t guarantee how much time Easton had left.

That’s when the Wilsons contacted Make-A-Wish and organized the holiday celebrations, knowing their son’s time on Earth was likely short. Hospice care soon took over looking after Easton, who died the month after celebrating his birthday.

“We asked them, you know, I know they can’t tell me but, ‘How much time?’ Because Christmas is coming, his birthday’s in February, my daughter’s birthday was coming up. And the doctor basically said, ‘I wouldn’t see February,’” Tracy Wilson told WLWTV.

“It’s watching your worst nightmare … it’s hard. I don’t wish it on anybody.”