'Santa Cop' brings Christmas to boy with terminal cancer
All week Western Washington residents have seen the law enforcement community come together in the face of adversity.
But police officers' families also reach out to one another even in the most difficult of times.
Parker Brown's little 8-year old body is riddled with cancer. Even after years of battling leukemia, there was nothing to prepare his family for devastating news.
"Two days ago they told us he was terminal, there's nothing more they can do for his cancer. So right now we're just hoping for that miracle for him," said Parker's mom, Sarah Brown.
Parker's dad, Josh, is an Okanogan County sheriff's deputy. The family has left their home in Omak for Children's Hospital in Seattle, surviving now on hope and prayer - and a hand up from their fellow officers.
Even though Parker is heavily sedated for pain, "Santa Cop" makes a visit.
He is really Officer John Abraham of the Seattle Police Department. Dressed in full uniform with Santa beard, hat, and a name tag reading "Santa," Abraham brings gifts and cheer to Parker's hospital room.
"I'm here to bring Christmas to the little guy and to the family from fellow family members that they don't even know," says Abraham.
Santa Cop delivers envelopes full of checks and money collected from fundraisers and fellow officers. There is a check for $1,000 from the Seattle Police Officers Guild in the name of Tim Brenton.
Officer Tim Brenton's family lost him last month, when he was murdered on the job. His widow, Lisa, told me about the Browns in an interview last week. She wanted to help them.
"I'm hoping they won't have to say goodbye, but I didn't get a chance. And I just want them to have a chance to do it right with his brothers," said Lisa Brenton. "I'm not sure which is worse: watching your child suffer like that or to have someone taken away so suddenly. If I can help them say goodbye then I've done something good."
So besides the money and checks and gift cards, there were presents for Parker and his brothers, Dakota and Dylon. The presents are from Lisa Brenton and her family.
"It says a lot for her and it says a lot for the 'other' half of the police officer and how they function and deal with pain and sorrow," said Officer Abraham.
"Being able to think of our family while dealing with her own loss ... there are no words to describe it," said Parker's dad, Josh.
Santa Cop says, "When it happens to one of us, it happens to us all." Now, if only the Brown's could have the only thing they need: a miracle.
Parker's family has a web site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/parkerbrown.
If you would like to contribute to the Help the Officers Fund, the address is:
The Seattle Police Officers Guild
2949 4th Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98106
But police officers' families also reach out to one another even in the most difficult of times.
Parker Brown's little 8-year old body is riddled with cancer. Even after years of battling leukemia, there was nothing to prepare his family for devastating news.
"Two days ago they told us he was terminal, there's nothing more they can do for his cancer. So right now we're just hoping for that miracle for him," said Parker's mom, Sarah Brown.
Parker's dad, Josh, is an Okanogan County sheriff's deputy. The family has left their home in Omak for Children's Hospital in Seattle, surviving now on hope and prayer - and a hand up from their fellow officers.
Even though Parker is heavily sedated for pain, "Santa Cop" makes a visit.
He is really Officer John Abraham of the Seattle Police Department. Dressed in full uniform with Santa beard, hat, and a name tag reading "Santa," Abraham brings gifts and cheer to Parker's hospital room.
"I'm here to bring Christmas to the little guy and to the family from fellow family members that they don't even know," says Abraham.
Santa Cop delivers envelopes full of checks and money collected from fundraisers and fellow officers. There is a check for $1,000 from the Seattle Police Officers Guild in the name of Tim Brenton.
Officer Tim Brenton's family lost him last month, when he was murdered on the job. His widow, Lisa, told me about the Browns in an interview last week. She wanted to help them.
"I'm hoping they won't have to say goodbye, but I didn't get a chance. And I just want them to have a chance to do it right with his brothers," said Lisa Brenton. "I'm not sure which is worse: watching your child suffer like that or to have someone taken away so suddenly. If I can help them say goodbye then I've done something good."
So besides the money and checks and gift cards, there were presents for Parker and his brothers, Dakota and Dylon. The presents are from Lisa Brenton and her family.
"It says a lot for her and it says a lot for the 'other' half of the police officer and how they function and deal with pain and sorrow," said Officer Abraham.
"Being able to think of our family while dealing with her own loss ... there are no words to describe it," said Parker's dad, Josh.
Santa Cop says, "When it happens to one of us, it happens to us all." Now, if only the Brown's could have the only thing they need: a miracle.
Parker's family has a web site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/parkerbrown.
If you would like to contribute to the Help the Officers Fund, the address is:
The Seattle Police Officers Guild
2949 4th Ave. S.
Seattle, WA 98106