About ten years ago, or so, I volunteered for an organization that granted wishes for seriouslly ill children. The organization also threw parties at local hospitals, creating distractive therapy for children of all ages. Christmas time was the busiest, we would bring a Santa to all the pediatric wards and give out presents, candy... holiday cheer. One such party was scheduled for the Shriners Burn Institute for Children in Boston. We got news early in the day that our Santa had become ill and couldn't attend the party. A Christmas party without Santa? The children would be devastated! Needless to say, myself and several other volunteers called all the local 'Rent A Santa' companies but to no avail. It was a week before Christmas and not one Santa actor was available on such short notice. We were panicked but the party must go on. We set up the balloons and brought the arts and crafts and tried to entertain the children as best we could. Ho! Ho! Ho! In walked Santa, and let me tell you... this man was the perfect Santa! He had bright rosy cheeks and a pure white beard. His red suit was lined with glistening white fur and when he laughed, his whole body seemed to jiggle. We had no idea how he'd found us but we were thrilled that he did. 

We offered him the huge bag of gifts and began to explain our system for making sure the appropriate gift was given to each child. We'd drawn codes on the bottom of each gift (girl, 8, boy 10 etc) We offered to hand him each gift as he sat with a child but with his booming laugh he waved us away and grabbing the bag approached the first child.

The Shriners Burn Institute saves children from around the world and so it wasn't unusual for children to be present who spoke many different languages. As was the case this day. The language barrier was a non issue though, as this Santa managed to talk with each child, in their native language. Hindi, Spanish, Italian and so on. The volunteers stood back in awe as he worked his way to each child in the room. The children hung on his every word and clapped their hands with joy when he handed them their gifts. The Santa never turned one gift over to check the code but each time he managed to hand the waiting child the perfect gift.

As the party drew to an end the Santa had one more child to meet. A young girl of about 4 who was tragically burned over much of her body. Sitting in pain in her wheel chair her face was full of anguish, her eyes held no hope. Her mother was by her side and the sadness in the woman's eyes, the hopelessness was heartrenching.  I had asked the nurses where they were from but they couldn't say and the family spoke a rare Russian dialect that no one understood.  Santa reached out to the mother and pulled her into his arms. He whispered something into her ears and the woman smiled, truly smiled. She laughed out loud and turning to her child she introduced the magical man. Santa kneeled at her daughters wheelchair and taking her bandaged hands into his own he spoke softly. 

We stood, holding our breath, each volunteer and watched as hope and joy dawned on this precious child's face. Christmas was indeed, full of miracles.

We thanked the Santa and asked him where to send the bill but he waved and laughed his beautiful laugh as he walked out the door.

We called around to all the companies we'd contacted but they all admitted they had not been able to find an available actor for us, no one knew who he was. No one had sent him.

To enter the Burn Institute you must pass by security and are only let in with ID and a reference, a purpose for being there. The security guard didn't remember seeing a Santa enter the building.

To those of us who were present that day, we had no doubt. Santa or as some believe, an Angel, had indeed been present that day.

I remember believing in Santa as a child. I could swear one Christmas I saw Rudolph's red nose flying high above, in the sky.

But that day, at the Burn institute, that was the day I came to believe again. 

I came to believe, in Santa.

I want to thank you for sharing our story, for taking this journey with us. 

We wish you the merriest of Christmas's and remind you to never give up on your dreams... if it's a child you wish for, know that God has a plan for you and that the child or children meant for you, will find you. Believe in yourself and your love ones, have patience and compassion and give this Christmas from your heart... give your love. Do this, and love and peace will surround you as you move forward in the coming year. This I wish for you.

Merry Christmas