Decorate for Dax

Christmas is coming early to one neighborhood in Washington, Illinois, where residents started decorating their houses right after Halloween this year in honor of two-year-old Dax Locke.

Dax has acute myeloid leukemia (a form of blood cancer) and doctors say he doesn't have much time left. The boy's parents, Julie and Austin Locke, wanted to make sure Dax got one more chance to feel the magic of Christmas, so they started to celebrate early this year by putting lights up outside their home.

"We don't have much time left with Dax, don't know if he will make it to Christmas, so we wanted to have Christmas early," Julie Locke told local news station WMBD, as reported on CNN.com.

Pretty soon, the whole neighborhood started joining in, decorating their houses one by one. They even surprised the Lockes by decorating a big tree outside their home while the family was away.

In just a few short weeks, the phenomenon has gone global with a Web site where people can post pictures of their displays in honor of Dax. Submissions have poured in from all over, including as far away as Germany and even Australia. Gifts have also poured in — so many that Dax has been able to open one every morning.

This year's festivities are all the more poignant because Dax has never spent Christmas at home — his illness has always kept him in the hospital.

Everyone is holding out hopes Dax will make it to Christmas.

"Christmas would be a miracle. We're praying for a big miracle," said neighbor and friend Trish Hurtgen.

We're hoping for a miracle, too. Merry early Christmas, Dax!

Those looking to make a donation are asked to contribute to a $20,000 fundraising effort at St. Jude. So far, donors have pitched in more than $11,000.

Photo courtesy of Pugetsoundphotowalks via Flickr.