A 56-year-old North Carolina woman loves Christmas so much that she decorated her home for the winter holiday two months early – not because she wanted to celebrate longer, but just in case God decides to take her before Dec. 25 comes.
“There’s a good chance, unless the Lord changes his mind, that I won’t make it through Christmas,” Michelle Fadel, who has stage 4 cancer, told ABC News. “And I love Christmas.”
Fadel’s love of Christmas goes far beyond gift giving. The Concord resident said she loves “that everyone is cheery” and “together” during the holiday.
‘Everything’s lit up, everything’s pretty, and you rarely see grumpy people during Christmas
Spending time “laughing and eating” and having a “blast” with family is the other main reason why Fadel loves the holiday season, she said.
“I love being with my kids and grandkids and my husband,” she said. “I love sharing cookies and having the neighbors dropping in, and it’s just really fun.”
Fadel was diagnosed with cancer in August 2010, and it has since spread to her bones, lungs and brain. Doctors suggested that she stop chemotherapy and be placed in hospice care.
After hearing the doctors’ prognosis, Fadel decided to get in the holiday spirit early and busted out her wreath, reindeer, Christmas lights and nativity set.
Once neighbors got wind of Fadel’s determination to celebrate her favorite holiday, they joined in and began hanging their own decorations.
Those close to Fadel are encouraging people to send her early Christmas cards.
Fadel’s husband Daniel is collecting a wishlist for presents and will soon put up their Christmas tree so they can celebrate with their three children and six grandchildren.
“It is painful when they realize the woman who’s dying is me,” Fadel said. “But, I have a choice. I get to enjoy the days I have left, or I’ll be sad.”
“I have a lot of things to be happy about because I know where I’m going,” she said. “I’m going to heaven, so I’m going to be healed one way or the other. That gives me a lot of joy.”