- Original Message -
From: chris west
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;@spaceymail-a2.dreamhost.com
Sent: Sunday, December 17, 2006 7:38 AM
Subject: Always believe in Miracles
Three years ago, a little boy and his grandmother came to see Santa at
Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on his lap, holding a
picture of a little girl.
Who is this? asked Santa, smiling. Your friend? Your sister?
Yes, Santa, he replied. My sister, Sarah, who is very sick, he said
sadly.
Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was aiting nearby, And saw her
dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa! the child
exclaimed. She misses you, he added softly.
Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy's face, asking
him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas.
When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help the child
off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but halted.
What is it? Santa asked warmly.
Well, I know it's really too much to ask you, Santa, but .. the old woman
began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa's elves to collect the
little gift
which Santa gave all his young visitors. The girl in the photograph... my
granddaughter well, you see .. she has leukemia and isn't expected to make
it even through the holidays, she said through tear-filled eyes. Is there
any way, Santa any possible way that you could come see Sarah? That's all
she's asked for, for Christmas, is to see Santa.
Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave information
with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could do.
Santa
thought of little else the rest of that afternoon. He knew what he had to
do. What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed, dying, he
thought with a sinking heart, this is the least I can do.
When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that evening, he
retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was staying.
He asked the assistant location manager how to get to Children's Hospital.
Why? Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face.
Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah's grandmother earlier that
day.
C'mon I'll take you there, Rick said softly.
Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They found out
which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait out in the hall.
Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and saw
little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be her
family;
there was the Grandmother and the girl's brother he had met earlier that
day. A woman whom he guessed was Sarah's mother stood by the bed, gently
pushing Sarah's thin hair off her forehead. And another woman who he
discovered later was Sarah's aunt, sat in a chair near the bed with weary,
sad look on her face. They were talking quietly, and Santa could sense the
warmth and closeness of the family, and their love and concern for Sarah.
Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on his face, Santa entered the
room, bellowing a hearty, Ho, ho, ho!
Santa! shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run
to him, IVtubes in tact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her a warm hug.
A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old
-- gazed up at him with wonder and excitement. Her skin was pale and her
short tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy.
But all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His
heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears. Though his
eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the gasps and quiet
sobbing of the women in the room.
As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the bedside one
by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully, whispering thank
you
as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes. Santa and Sarah talked
and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she wanted for
Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good girl that year. As their
time together dwindled,
Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission
from the girl's mother. She nodded in agreement
and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding hands.
Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels.
Oh, yes, Santa... I do! she exclaimed.
Well, I'm going to ask that angels watch over you,he said.
Laying one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He
asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He
asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished
praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing softly,
Silent Night, Holy Night all is calm, all is bright.
The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying
tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at
