North Carolina neighborhood celebrates Christmas early for dying woman

CONCORD, N.C -- Anyone passing through Chinaberry Lane might just roll their eyes. Yard after yard is decked out with nativities, lights, wreathes and all the trappings of Christmas before it's even Halloween.

Without perspective, you might think the people living on that lane are just overly eager to start a season way too soon like many department stores already playing Christmas music. With perspective, you come to understand that Christmas in October, is for one woman who won't be here in December.

"I have stage 4 cancer and I love Christmas," Michelle Fadel said.

Michelle doesn't flinch when she talks of the breast cancer that spread to her brain.

"I told my husband I have a good mind to just start decorating for Christmas so our grandkids don't miss out on Christmas, and he said 'I'd love that,'" Fadel said. It's not treatable now, which for many would signal a time for mourning. For Michelle, it's a time to start living.

WBTV reports that word spread around the neighborhood like wildfire. In just days, neighbors set out lights, reindeer, Nativity sets, wreathes and signs pointing to the North Pole. Even the guy who never puts out decorations put a wreath on his mailbox.

"There's a good chance, unless the Lord changes his mind, that I won't make it through Christmas and I love Christmas," Fadel told ABC News. "I love that everyone is cheery, everyone's together, everything's lit up, everything's pretty and you rarely see grumpy people during Christmas."

Michelle has spent several nights being pushed down the street in her wheelchair seeing who has put up new decorations. She spends that time smiling, laughing and living.

"When you've got people who support you like our neighbors are supporting us now and who are putting Christmas decorations up before Halloween, that's pretty special," Fadel said.

Her days are spent with family and friends. Her nights are spent enjoying what her neighbors have done to help make her last days the most special.