When Gene Weittenhiller’s doctors informed him he had months to live, the Wisconsin man asked for one thing: Christmas cards. A lot of them.
Weittenhiller said he doesn’t care who they’re from, as long as they’re addressed to him. He’s likely going into his last Christmas, and Weittenhiller says the kind thoughts and holiday greetings will help remind his family that they’re not alone.
Diagnosed with terminal cancer, Weittenhiller opted to end treatment after extensive surgery and months of chemotherapy. Radiation wasn’t working the way it was supposed to, and the cancer spread from his prostate to his pancreas and liver. It was time, he said.
The experience has been “devastating,” according to his wife, Linda. “Mostly because we just retired, we are just enjoying being close to our kids and our grandchildren.”
But the support Weittenhiller has received from his community has made it bearable, she added. One moment in particular changed the Weittenhillers’ perspective entirely, she said.
It was shortly after Weittenhiller’s request went viral on social media and three Milwaukee men decided to deliver their Christmas cards in person. They piled into a car and made the two-hour drive into the center of the state, just to “make him smile.”
“We used everything we had in our pockets to put in the gas tank, to buy the Christmas cards,” Markeith Powell said.
The three men were able to pray with Weittenhiller, share stories, and comfort his family. The experience “made me look at my life so different,” said Earl Minley.
“He teared up because we were the only people who actually came to see him,” Powell said. “He got a lot of letters in the mail. But we’re the only people who actually showed up at his doorstep.”
The holidays are a time of joy and giving, but for many, they are also a time of loss and grief. The Weittenhillers’ story is a reminder that joy is still possible, even in the midst of loss. It is also a testament to the comfort and compassion a community can provide, and sometimes all it takes is a simple Christmas card.
Should you wish to give Gene Weittenhiller and his family a Christmas card, here is their address:
Gene Weittenhiller 410 20th St. Prairie du Sac, WI 53578
