Man’s heartbreaking reason he spells out neighbour’s name in Xmas lights leaves people in tears

Mike Witmer has honoured his late neighbour with a display on his roof big enough to be ‘seen from heaven’

A man has spelled out the name ‘Kevin’ in Christmas lights for the past 20 years in a sweet tradition to honour his former neighbour. Mike Witmer, 56, says passers-by are sometimes left puzzled by his lights as ‘Hi Kevin’ is emblazoned across his roof.

But the dad-of-two has explained that the message is a heartfelt tribute to his late neighbour and friend – a young man who died from cancer in 2010. For the past two decades, Mike has featured a reference to Kevin in his extravagant light displays.

The pair had lived on neighbouring roads and Kevin had loved seeing Mike’s light displays each December. The year that Kevin was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, at age just 11, the homeowner had written ‘Get Well Kevin’ in lights.

He continued to reference the lad in his display each year until his tragic death eight years on in June 2010, aged 19.

Following his passing, Mike vowed to honour Kevin’s life by continuing their much-loved tradition – installing his largest display yet on his roof, so that Kevin could still see the lights from above.

Mike, a land surveyor, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, US, said: “Kevin was a cool kid in the neighbourhood – he swam on the local swim team with my kids and we all became friends.

“When I heard he had cancer and was going through chemo and radiotherapy, I wanted to support him.

“I had this idea to write ‘Get Well Kevin’ in my Christmas lights – what 11-year-old doesn’t want to see their name in lights, cancer or not?

“I decided to do it every year after that because he loved it – even when he went into remission and went off to college.

“But he had just finished his first year of college when the cancer came back – and it took him.

“I told everyone to come by that year and the ‘Hi Kevin’ would be bigger so he can see it from up in heaven.

“This is my 20th anniversary of the tribute to Kevin, and I’ll keep doing it every year as long as I’m able.”

Kevin was just 11 when he was diagnosed with lymphoma in the autumn of 2002.

He began treatment and it was unclear whether he would be well enough to spend Christmas at home.

On 23rd December the doctors confirmed Kevin would – and this became the year Mike’s tradition began.

Mike said: “Kevin was a good athlete and had a great sense of humour.

“He was very outgoing and would talk to anyone – he was just an overall cool kid.

“He was just a great person, all the way around.

“I don’t know what exactly made me think of the lights for him, I just wanted to support him.”

Kevin’s mother told Mike that Kevin loved the display so much that he had asked if it would be done every year – and Mike couldn’t refuse.

Every year after that, the dad would find some way to display a tribute to Kevin in his lights display – with a new spot each time, like a game of ‘Where’s Wally’? for Kevin to find.

During high school, Kevin went into remission, but Mike continued the tributes – even when Kevin went away to college in 2009.

But after finishing his first year at the University of Maryland, the cancer devastatingly came back – this time more aggressive than before.

Kevin then died in the June 2010, aged 19.

Mike was invited to speak at his funeral as he and Kevin’s sweet friendship was well known in the area.

Mike said: “Afterwards, I invited everyone back to my house.

“I told them this year the tribute would be bigger and better, on the roof so Kevin could see.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

This year marks 20 years since Kevin was diagnosed and the tradition was born – and Mike hasn’t missed a single year.

While Kevin’s family have since moved away from Gaithersburg, Mike and his family have kept in touch with them over the years.

After sharing the sweet story on a Facebook post, the story was shared widely and attracted thousands of likes and comments by people touched by his tribute.

Mike said: “I’m very appreciative for all the attention it’s getting. It’s really been amazing.

“But when I started the lights tradition, it was just a little gesture to Kevin, and it still is.

“I’m thrilled to be along for the ride, but it’s not really about me.

“It’s just a tribute to a really cool kid who didn’t deserve what was happening to him.”

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