Woman battling cancer gets surprise parade from first responders

WASHINGTON (25 News Now) - A 65-year-old terminally ill woman says she had the birthday of a lifetime Friday. It ended with a surprise from first responders through their non-profit efforts of ‘Pink Heals’.

It was the birthday celebration heard throughout the Sunnyland neighborhood.

“It is a real surprise. I never would have dreamed of nothing like this,” said 65-year-old Brenda Osborne.

“I can’t believe it. I didn’t know they ever do this to people,” she said.

Osborne is a breast cancer survivor, now battling esophagus cancer. She was diagnosed in November and now relies on a feeding tube.

“I ain’t been able to eat or drink nothing since then,” said Osborne.

Friday night, the Pink Heals Peoria Chapter made a parade of first responders possible.

“Her son happened to say something about it being his moms birthday and being in her final days and I just jumped on it and started making phone calls and here we are,” said VP of Pink Heals Peoria, Chad Fugitt.

Fuggit says the chapter started a month ago. They are part of the national non-profit which fundraises for cancer patients.

“It gives me a good feeling knowing that we can make them forget about what they’re going through for just a very short time,” said Fugitt.

Fugitt hopes to make visits like this weekly and raise more funds providing support to families.

“It’ll allow us to give gift baskets, each family has certain needs whether it be gas cards to get back and forth to their doctors,” Fugitt continued, “Pretty much whatever the families desire is we would like to help them out a little bit.”

While Osborne says this day was one of the best, she’s hoping for brighter days ahead.

“Get better is all I want. Have the lord take it away from me,” said Osborne.

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