Thriving Thursday!

Take a moment to see the good.

Our highlighted story this week shows a heartwarming neighborhood effort to give one little girl a very special last Christmas. A community in Bethesda, Maryland hung lights, decked the halls, and wore Christmas pajamas in honor of one very special 9-year-old girl: Kasey Zachmann.

Five years prior, Kasey was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer. On June 23, 2025, Joe and Alyssa, Kasey’s mom, learned that she may only have weeks left with her family. Cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. They decided to act. Kasey’s parents decided to turn her diagnosis day into her last special Christmas. They emailed a handful of neighbors asking them to put up Christmas lights, noting: “This week will be incredibly hot and not the best climate for putting up lights, but we’re not sure how much time we have.”

“With just six days notice, more than 24 firetrucks drove over to Kasey’s house, and Santa Claus himself sat atop an antique fire engine. Hundreds of homes were lit up to greet Kasey, who wore a Nutcracker-themed pink dress. There were surprises, cards and gifts for Kasey, who generously shared with her little sister, Zara.”

Read more of this story here: https://www.today.com/…/christmas-in-june-girl-brain…