Husband makes wife’s dream of snow come true as she faces cancer battle
By Rochelle Moore
Times Staff Writer
Laurie Pearson has been
dreaming of a white Christmas.
And just last week, she told
loved ones the only thing she
really wanted this year was to
see snow. Even though Wilson
had a white Christmas two
years ago, snow isn’t that common around the holidays or
any other time of the year.
But on Saturday, Laurie’s
home on Huntsmoor Lane
turned into a winter wonderland and her front yard was
the only place in Wilson covered with snow. Four tons of it.
“I wanted snow at Christmas, but I didn’t think I would
get it,” she said. “It’s awesome.
It was the best Christmas
ever.”
The snow, which was blown
onto her front lawn by Snow
My Yard in Raleigh, was a gift
from not only her husband,
relatives, co-workers and
friends but also Snow My
Yard, which cut the price back
from $3,000 to $350 because
of the extraordinary circumstances involved.
Everyone wanted to make
Christmas special this year
as Laurie continues to battle
Stage IV cancer. She was first
diagnosed in February 2011
but treatment sent her into
Top photo, Laurie and Kevin Pearson stand on the porch of their Huntsmoor Lane home while visiting family play in a “snow”-covered yard. Above, Landon Tant, 3, and Megan Jones, 16, have fun in the
machine-made snow. Photos by Gray Whitley | Times
a six-month remission. The
cancer, however, returned and
spread into other areas of her
body. In August, she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer
and has continued to receive
treatment. Recent treatments
could be promising, as her
doctor is hopeful she is near
remission once again.
But until doctor visits resume in January, she’s focused
on enjoying the holidays.
“When someone asked her
what she wanted for Christmas, she said all she wanted
was a white Christmas,” her
husband, Kevin, said.
Kevin kept the delivery of
snow a secret and he took
Laurie out of the house for
several hours Saturday as
a crew from Snow My Yard
crushed ice and pumped the
snow on her front yard.
“She didn’t have a clue,”
he said. “It never crossed her
mind.”
See SNOW, Page 3A
Snow: ‘It was the best Christmas ever’
continued from page 1A
As Kevin drove up to the
house, Laurie asked him
what he had done. He told
her, “You wanted a white
Christmas and you got it.”
He was pretty happy
with the surprise as Laurie
walked up to the house
to find family in her front
yard, watching and waiting. A friend stopped by
and Laurie asked, “Do you
like my snow? He has lost
his mind.”
Laurie was a bit exhausted from being out for several hours but after taking
a short break, she enjoyed
seeing children, as well
as adults, throwing snowballs, sledding and playing
in the snow.
Laurie’s sister, Tammy
Wilkins, said that Kevin
has always tried to do all
he can to make his wife
happy.
“I’m not trying to give
her the world,” he said.
“I’m just trying to give her
what she wants.
“Back in August when
we found out her cancer
had metastasized, we
didn’t think she was going
to be here for Christmas.
I’m just blessed to have her
for another Christmas. She
wanted snow for Christmas and she got it.”
Snow makers with Snow My Yard supply ice for machined “snow”for the yard of Laurie and
Kevin Pearson. Gray Whitley | Times
When Kevin’s sister, Janice Jones, learned that she
wanted snow for Christmas, she remembered
hearing about companies
that can actually make
snow. Snow My Yard,
owned by Greater Raleigh
Refrigeration, drove an ice
truck to the Pearsons and
once there, started opening
the bags of ice and sliding
it into a snow blowing machine that turns ordinary
ice into snow. By nightfall,
the front yard was still covered in snow and Satur-
day’s weather cooperated
as temperatures dropped
into the 50s from their recently unseasonably high
levels.
Laurie may have been
dreaming of a white
Christmas, but Kevin
was dreaming of making
Christmas special, if not
extraordinary.
“He’s the best husband
anyone could ever ask
for,” Laurie said. “He’s
awesome. He’s my saving
grace. He’s not missed one
doctor appointment or one
treatment. This is one of
his many good deeds, of
course, but this is out of
the ordinary.”
rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818
/LPLWHG
'L
Husband stays by wife’s side
Woman hospitalized but moved by special white Christmas gift
By Rochelle Moore
Times Staff Writer
Laurie Pearson was able to
enjoy snow on her front lawn
for a couple days before an
infection set in and she was
admitted to Wilson Medical
Center on Christmas Eve.
Her husband, Kevin, who
made Laurie’s wish of a white
Christmas in Wilson come
true, has remained at her side
as she continues to battle a
fever.
Her fever continued Friday
and Kevin told The Wilson
Times he’s concerned about
her recovery but remains
hopeful.
“She’s not getting any better,” he said. “She’s actually
worse. My concern is getting her well and getting her
home.”
Kevin’s gift to Laurie last
Saturday — the delivery of
four tons of snow — has received national recognition,
with news outlets across the
See GIFT, Page 2A
Gift: Heartwarming story gets national attention
continued from page 1A
state and nation publishing The Wilson Times’
story about Laurie Pearson’s white Christmas, the
only gift she said she really
wanted this year.
Laurie has been battling
cancer for almost two
years and in August was
diagnosed with Stage IV
cancer.
TODAY News, of “The
Today Show,” published
the story on its website
Friday and the story, along
with a Wilson Times’ photo, was prominently displayed on the www.today.
com website.
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phone calls and on
Wednesday, I got a call
from today.com,” Kevin
said, who granted NBC’s
Today News an interview.
Kevin was told that “The
Today Show” will consider
using the story on a future
broadcast but no guarantee was made.
“He said there’s a possibility of a show but I
haven’t heard back,” he
said.
When Kevin, his sister
and others pulled together
to give Laurie a white
Christmas, Kevin said he
never expected the story to
go beyond Wilson.
“I think it’s great that the
story has gone national,”
he said. “It’s everywhere.
It never crossed my mind.
I never thought anything
like this would happen.”
A shorter version of
Monday’s Wilson Times’
story started showing up in
newspapers by Christmas
Eve and continued through
the week. On Monday, a
reporter with North Carolina’s WITN news channel
visited Kevin and broadcast a story that showed
patches of snow on the
Pearson lawn Monday.
Laurie started feeling
sick Sunday evening and
was later admitted to Wilson Medical Center on
Christmas Eve where she
has remained since that
time. Despite her illness,
Laurie has mentioned
Laurie and Kevin Pearson enjoy the snow at their Huntsmoore Lane home with visiting family before the holidays. Gray Whitley | Times
how much the gift of snow
made this year her best
Christmas ever.
“She’s probably talked
more about that than anything else,” Kevin said.
Snow My Yard, based in
Raleigh, visited the Pearson home Saturday and
surprised Laurie with four
tons of snow created after
bags of ice were pumped
into a snow-blowing machine.
When she first arrived
at the house, she couldn’t
understand why an ice
truck was in her driveway.
Then, she saw the snow
and family and friends
who gathered to celebrate
Christmas and make the
day one to remember.
Snow My Yard, owned
by Greater Raleigh Refrigeration, cut the price of the
snow delivery from $3,000
to $350 because of the extraordinary circumstances.
The Pearsons home was
the only place in Wilson
covered with snow as temperatures remained in the
50s.
Shortly after the story
was published in The
Wilson Times on Monday,
Kevin started receiving
requests for interviews. He
hasn’t been able to answer
a lot of the phone calls
because he’s been focused
on his wife’s condition this
week.
“She’s still running a
fever,” he said on Friday.
“The doctor’s optimistic
that’s she’s going to be OK.
I hope so.”
Laurie tested negative
for the flu but contracted
a viral infection due to her
weakened immune system,
Kevin said. She was first
diagnosed with cancer in
February 2011 but treatment for breast cancer and
colorectal cancer sent her
into a six-month remission.
In August, the cancer returned into other areas of
her body, in her brain and
bones. She has continued
to receive treatment and is
optimistic that the cancer
may once again go into
remission.
Kevin was waiting Friday
to hear more from Laurie’s physician about her
current sickness. Laurie’s
Christmas gifts are still under the tree at home.
rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818
‘It’s really helped her’
By Rochelle Moore
Times Staff Writer
Laurie Pearson is recovering from an infection,
regaining her strength and
is expected to return home
over the weekend.
But not without a lot
more people knowing her
name.
Pearson, who is battling
Stage IV cancer, was given
her wish of a white Christmas after her husband,
Kevin, and other friends
and family had four tons of
snow blown onto her front
yard on a 50-degree day in
Wilson.
Pearson, 45, was surprised by the gift and
able to enjoy the snow for
a couple of days before
being admitted to Wilson Medical Center on
Christmas Eve. She has
remained at the hospital,
fighting off an infection
and fever, but is recovering from her illness, Kevin
Pearson said.
“She’s better,” he said.
“She’s up in the chair and
out of the bed. The infection is under control so
she’s feeling a lot better.”
She was too sick last
week to listen much to
the news as the Pearsons’
story of a white Christmas
traveled across the United
States and world. The story
first appeared in The Wilson Times on Dec. 24 and
has since been published
in newspapers across the
nation, appeared on television newscasts and posted
on today.com. The story
was also picked up worldwide after being published
by the United Kingdom’s
Daily Mail.
Kevin Pearson said the
story and its impact on others has made a difference
during a time when Pearson wasn’t feeling well.
“It’s really helped her,”
he said.
Many people, in their online comments from such
places as London and Italy,
have said that the story
inspired them, made them
believe there is good in the
world and that true love
exists. Others have offered
words of support and some
have said they are praying
for Pearson’s recovery.
“I’ve read some of the
comments to her,” he said.
Woman battling cancer
will return home
Laurie and Kevin Pearson enjoy the snow at their Huntsmoore Lane home with visiting family Dec. 22. Gray Whitley | Times
“She loves it. It makes her
smile.”
Pearson’s story has inspired people in Wilson
as well. A man she never
met before stopped by her
hospital room and gave her
a wooden cross he said he
was inspired to make for
her. Kevin Pearson hung
the 18-inch cross on her
locker. Nurses and other
health care professionals
have asked for her autograph and joked that she’s
famous. “They pick on
her,” Kevin said. “They call
her a superstar.”
Pearson was first diagnosed with cancer in February 2011, but went into
remission for six months
after receiving treatment.
The cancer returned in August but recent treatment
has been positive and led
her doctor to believe she
may be headed for another
remission. She is planned
to return for more diagnostic tests next week after
she is fully recovered from
her recent illness, Kevin
Pearson said.
About a week before
Christmas, Pearson told
loved ones all she really
wanted was to have a white
Christmas and she kept
track of weather reports
in hopes of seeing snow.
Kevin Pearson, who said
he’s thankful for another
year with his wife, wanted
to make this year special.
Kevin Pearson thought
that getting the story published in his hometown
newspaper would be an
added bonus. He had no
idea that the story would
become so popular and
sent around the world.
“That’s just great,” he
said. “That’s just wonderful. I’m glad it’s touched a
lot of people.”
rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818
‘She inspired a lot of people’
Woman loses cancer battle a month after White Christmas gift
By Rochelle Moore
Times Staff Writer
Laurie Pearson’s fight
against cancer and her
love for snow touched the
lives of more people than
she will ever meet.
Pearson battled Stage
IV cancer but just before
Christmas her husband,
Kevin, gave her a white
Christmas on a 50-degree day in Wilson. Kevin
wasn’t sure if it would be
her last Christmas but
wanted to do something
special after hearing that
all she wanted for the holidays was to see snow.
Kevin, family and friends
pulled together and hired
Snow My Yard, which traveled from Raleigh to Wil-
son and pumped four tons
of snow on her front lawn.
She was surprised by the
gift and spent the day with
family, which gathered to
celebrate the holidays. It
was one of the few days
that she felt well enough to
be at home.
“At the time, we didn’t
know it would be her last
Christmas,” said Janice
Jones, Laurie’s sister-inlaw. “It gave her time to enjoy all the kids. It just gave
her a day to forget (about
the cancer).”
Laurie Pearson’s condition worsened after the
holidays and she spent all
but two days in the hospital. During that time, her
See PEARSON, Page 2A
Laurie Pearson is seen with husband, Kevin, on their wedding
day. Contributed Photo
Pearson: Inspiration to many
continued from page 1A
story touched the lives of
health care workers, led to
the family being added to
prayer lists all over Wilson
County and other states
and inspired many people
in the area.
“I’ve been called snowman and everything else,”
Kevin said. “Laurie was
known all over the hospital. She was on prayer lists
everywhere. It made me
feel good for her.”
Their story also caught
the attention of media
outlets across the nation,
including today.com, and
the world after being published by the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail.
Laurie’s story had an impact in what became some
of the last days of her life.
The 45-year-old died Sunday, surrounded by loved
ones, after cancer spread
through her body to a point
she could not sustain.
On Friday, when snowflakes fell in Wilson, Kevin
was touched by knowing
the snow his wife wished
for finally came. He considered it a homecoming
of sorts.
“When it started snowing, we just felt like it was
for her,” Kevin said. “It was
enough.”
Kevin said that the outpouring of love and support
to his wife meant a lot during a difficult time. She was
touched by her caregivers,
which led the family to establish a scholarship fund
Laurie and Kevin Pearson stand on the porch of their Huntsmoor Lane home while family
play in a snow-covered yard in December 2012. Gray Whitley | Times File Photo
that will provide support to
young adults in the medical
field. Kevin said that Laurie
asked many of her caregivers about their work and
learned that some CNAs
could not attend nursing
school because of the lack
of funding. The scholarship
fund is a way for Laurie’s
wishes of giving back to be
granted.
“It was just the way they
took care of her,” Kevin
said. “There were so many
CNAs who came in to take
care of her who made a
difference. It’s our way of
giving back for her.”
The Laurie G. Pearson
Nursing Scholarship Fund
will provide financial support to young adults seek-
ing a nursing degree. The
family plans to create an
annual fundraiser that will
support the scholarship
fund. Donations can be
made to the Laurie G. Pearson Nursing Scholarship
Fund, 4124 Huntsmoor
Lane, Wilson, NC, 27896.
Laurie was first diagnosed with cancer in
February 2011 and treatment for breast cancer and
colorectal cancer sent her
into a six-month remission. In August, the cancer
returned into other areas
of her body, in her brain
and bones. In January, the
cancer had spread further
and entered her liver.
Laurie’s mother and a
cousin also battled cancer,
leading doctors to believe
her condition was hereditary, Kevin said. She was
a fighter and continued to
believe in the possibility of
recovery. Her encouraging
words to others, especially
those battling with cancer,
served as an inspiration,
Jones said.
“She was just beautiful,”
Kevin said. “She truly inspired a lot of people. She
also inspired her nieces
and nephews more than
anything. If you met her
on the street, you wouldn’t
know she was sick.
“She inspired more
people at the age of 45
than most people would, I
think.”
rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818