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So, You Thought Santa Was Only a Legend?

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7601386_origThe year-end holidays are enchanting for lots of reasons. The joy of giving … Time with family and friends … And, sometimes, because they’re sprinkled with magic. That’s what happened when Santa Claus visited the bedside of a dying child …

First, a little background …

Eric Schmitt-Matzen  is an engineer by background. He owns a company in East Tennessee that fabricates components for industries as varied as medicine and automotive.

But, his real passion — the one that he and his wife went to a special school to learn — is transforming himself into Santa Claus:

externalSchmitt-Matzen says that spreading joy and seeing the delight in children’s eyes is what made he and his wife (Mrs. Claus) do what they do.

This year, however, was different.

In early November, Schmitt-Matzen got a call from a friend, who is an ICU nurse at a local hospital. She asked if “Santa” could drop everything and get to the hospital as fast possible.

A 5-year-old boy was dying, and his greatest fear was that he would miss Christmas.

Faster than Rudolph, Schmitt-Matzen raced to child’s room.

We’ll tell you what happened in a moment, but, first, in case some of you have already come across this story, we wanted to clear up a few things.

The story first appeared in the column of Sam Venable, a writer for the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The remarkable story was picked up by wire services and quickly spread around the globe.

Other reporters tried to verify the facts of the story but were unable to do so. The “miracle story” suddenly turned into the “hoax story” in this, the year of fake news.

But, a local television station didn’t give up so easily. WBIR, the NBC affiliate in Knoxville, started digging and discovered that the reason so many people were mum was that the nurse who called Santa violated HIPAA’s confidentially rules by calling Schmitt-Matzen and telling him about the boy’s situation. The family also wanted privacy during their time of grief. So, nobody was talking.

WBIR reporters, however, verified the facts of the story. So, if you have tissues handy …

A True Example of Christmas Magic

Before Santa entered the child’s room, he cautioned everyone outside that they had to dry all their tears if they were going in with him.

Schmitt-Matzen switched into “jolly mode” and marched into the room. When he looked back, no one came with him. He sat on the edge of the boy’s bed with his back to the people outside so he wouldn’t catch the eyes of the child’s mom or dad and start crying himself.

“What’s this I hear that you think you’re going to miss Christmas,” Santa bellowed.

The boy nodded weakly at Santa.

So, Santa exclaimed, “No way! Your present’s already been made up for you, and here it is.” He handed the boy a gift-wrapped toy the child’s parents had prepared.

The child looked up at him and said, “They say I’m dying.”

Santa said, “Will you do me a favor?”

“Sure,” answered the boy.

“When you get to those pearly gates, you tell ‘em you’re Santa’s Number One elf, and I know they’ll let you in,” Santa explained.

“I am?” he asked.

“Sure you are,” Santa answered.

The boy managed to sit up and gave Santa a huge hug. Then, he asked, “Santa, can you help me …”

But, before the boy could finish his question, he died in Santa’s arms.

At first, Schmitt-Matzen thought the child might have passed out. When he realized what happened, choking back tears, he held the boy in his arms.

Once the family and hospital staff realized what happened, they took the child. Schmitt-Matzen quietly left the hospital and cried the entire way home

The incident left him so shaken, he thought he might have to give up being Santa. But, the enduring sound of children laughing helped him through.

“It made me realize the role I have to play,” said the part-time Santa, whose Facebook page has been flooded with likes. “For them and for me.”

Here is the story in Schmitt-Matzen own words:

 

Though bittersweet, knowing that for one little boy Santa could not have been more real — just when he was needed the most — makes this story magical.

 

A Country Christmas, Stark, New Hampshire

This special season, everyone at PROCAS wishes you and your family a safe, joyous and loving holiday graced with magic of your own …


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