BOLIVAR PENINSULA, Texas — Each October, it's a weekend full of no tricks, just treats on Crystal Beach.
It all started in the middle of summer three years ago, when Shirley Broussard got some bad news from her doctors.
"They didn't think I was going to make it to October, so they did an early Halloween for me," Broussard explained.
Broussard was diagnosed with Lupus when she was 33 years old. It took a toll on her lungs, causing pulmonary hypertension. Six years ago, she had a lung transplant.
"Before her transplant, they had given her about a year to live," her daughter, Stevi Braswell said.
Three years ago, she started showing signs of rejection. Broussard was in bad shape, and it was touch and go for a while. Her last resort was an infusion that works on some people, but not everyone.
Her daughters, Braswell, Paige Tucker and Autumn Lydick got with Broussard's best friend, Charlotte Ethridge, now known as the "head witch." Knowing her love for Halloween and witches, they decided to throw Broussard an early "witches weekend," in the middle of summer on Crystal Beach.
It was a total surprise for Broussard. The group decorated Ethridge's cabin, all the women dressed up in witch costumes, and when her daughters brought her to the cabin they had her dress laid out. Fellow witches Jenifer Hall and Sue Jones were among the many there for that first witches weekend. But make no mistake, there's nothing wicked about them.
"When she walked in, immediately she started crying, which of course turned us into little mushy witches, and we all started crying," Hall said.
"It was joyful and emotional all at the same time, because we were celebrating the life of one of the strongest women I have ever met, and knowing that she may not be there for Halloween was difficult for us," Jones said.
From that point on, they decided to do a witches weekend each year to honor Broussard. The first year was crazy, according to Jones. She said people were stopping and must've thought they were doing some sort of ritual. The group stood in a circle around a cauldron, and Broussard was in the middle dancing and stirring it. They've even had the police come by a few times. Make no mistake, magic isn't the reason Broussard is still here.
"Charlotte wanted everybody to just stand in a circle and say a prayer for Shirley, and I think that helped," Hall explained.
The infusion worked for Broussard, and when October came around, the witches celebrated once again, this time with a dance. One of the things on her bucket list was to dance on the beach with everyone. Lydick admits, at first they thought it was a little "hockey," but everyone loved it.
Dancing 'witches' celebrate life every Halloween on Crystal Beach
The idea came from a video Broussard had seen of a group of witches dancing at a renaissance festival. She thought it would be cool to recreate it. Braswell said she told them to all learn the dance and do it at their next witches weekend. Now, a family friend, Anita McCoy, choreographs their dances. Because of her lungs, Broussard isn't able to dance like she used to, but she lip syncs and enjoys the music and the smiles it brings.
"She's gotten better since then, so every year it's just a celebration of the fact that she's with us again this year," Lydick said.
They hope to get more people involved next year. Eventually, Broussard wants to turn it into a donor awareness event. Braswell said each extra year has been a bonus year, all thanks to Broussard's donor, Delia. Each year, they also celebrate her, and the life that Broussard is able to live thanks to her "angel donor."
"We just didn't know that we were going to have all this extra time with our mom, you know, and we're just so very very very thankful," Braswell said.
The reason Broussard really loves Halloween and witches is because of her seven grandchildren. Her friends rave about what an amazing grandmother she is. Broussard enjoys being able to get down to their level each October, and let out her inner child.
"I had five grandkids before my lung transplant, and since then we have seven now," Broussard explained, "I wouldn't have been able to meet them if I wouldn't have had my donor."
The group also celebrates the lives of loved ones lost each year. Both Ethridge and Jones lost their husbands this past year.
"We all get together and we kind of heal from each other, and we celebrate life and we have fun doing it," Broussard said.
If anything should happen to Broussard, Hall said they would still honor her every year and do the event in her memory. However, Jones doesn't see that happening anytime soon.
The group invites anyone interested to come out and join them next year. The event will be the second weekend of October. Everyone is encouraged to dress like witches, and a good time is guaranteed.
ALSO POPULAR FROM 12NEWSNOW: