CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The Cook family was one of 50 families selected for Englewood’s Finest Christmas, an annual effort in which the nonprofit Something Good in Englewood brings the full Christmas experience to neighborhood families in need.
Something Good Founder Bryesha Adams told WBBM that this past Wednesday they called the Cook family to tell them that Santa was about five minutes away.
“We immediately knew something was wrong because there was heavy breathing on the phone, the mom sounded like she could barely speak, she was crying, and that’s when she told all of us that Christian had passed earlier that morning,” Adams said.
Christian was 2 years old.
His mother has since requested that the gifts, Christmas tree and visit from Santa meant for her and her son now be donated to another family — and she wants to help drop them off.
“We were completely shocked that she even has the strength to do this,” Adams said. “You know, when we spoke to her on that day, she was completely distraught, crying on the phone — which we totally understood — but to come back around, you know, a few days after and say can she go with us to drop off his toys to another family, we just thought that was so strong of her to even suggest something like that. It was her idea completely.”
The drop off will take place sometime this week and a GoFundMe has been started by the Cook family to help with little Christian’s funeral and burial.
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