Young cancer survivor from Canonsburg to light PPG Place Holiday Tree
A 10-year-old Canonsburg girl who survived cancer will light the PPG Holiday Tree in downtown Pittsburgh as part of Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night.
Braelyn Gordon, who was diagnosed with astroblastoma of her spinal cord at age 7, will flip the switch on the official “Holiday Tree” in the middle of the ice skating rink at PPG Place during the annual American Cancer Society Tribute of Light Celebration. It’s part of Pittsburgh’s Light Up Night festivities, which are scheduled for Saturday.
The event begins at 4:30 p.m., with Braelyn lighting the tree at 6.
“Lighting the tree this year means so much to Braelyn and our family as a whole because it means we are blessed enough to spend another Christmas with her in remission,” said Nautica Brooks, Braelyn’s mother.
Braelyn is a fifth-grader at Cecil Intermediate School in the Canon-McMillan School District.
Her cancer was discovered after she had become slightly paralyzed in her lower extremities. Surgery, radiation, rehabilitation, and therapy at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh helped Braelyn to regain her mobility.
Her family thought Braelyn’s battle with cancer was behind her until she started to experience headaches and nosebleeds.
“We thought we were in the clear. She spent two months in Children’s rehab center, and when she was released we did all of the outpatient therapy for one or two years,” said Nautica. “She hit all her milestones, but then they discovered a mass on her frontal lobe.”
More tests showed that the cancer had returned, this time in her brain.
Additional surgery and radiation followed.
“The whole time she was going through it, she was optimistic. She was unstoppable,” said Nautica. “She did TikToks, made friends with therapists, and stayed positive.”
She is currently in remission.
And the family is looking forward to the tree lighting.
“She is so excited. There are so many people who are going to watch her light it,” said Nautica, with a laugh. “Christmas is one of our favorite holidays at our house, and we’re really looking forward to it this year.”
In the annual Tribute of Light Celebration, volunteers carry lit tributes to honor cancer patients and survivors, their caregivers and families and those who have lost their battle to the disease. They’ll encircle the rink before Braelyn lights the tree.
Erika Jay from Q92.9 FM will serve as emcee for the tree-lighting events.
Entertainment by Natalie’s School of Champion Baton Twirlers, skaters from the RMU Island Sport Center Figure Skating Academy, and a special vocal performance by local artist Olivia Sperber will follow Jay’s opening remarks.
Braelyn and her family will then take to the stage to officially kick off the holiday season with the lighting of the tree. Following the tree lighting, there will be an open skate.
Anyone who wants to purchase a tribute in advance of Saturday’s Tribute of Light Celebration can visit https://tinyurl.com/TOLpittsburgh25. A limited number of tributes will be available for purchase the evening of the event.