This is a real Christmas miracle
story, happened in December 1997 in Wisconsin, USA.
story, happened in December 1997 in Wisconsin, USA.
A little girl named Sarah had
leukemia and was not expected to live to see Christmas. Her brother and
grandmother went to the mall to ask Mark Lenonard who was a professional Santa
Claus to visit the hospital to give Sarah the gift of hope through
encouragement and prayer.
leukemia and was not expected to live to see Christmas. Her brother and
grandmother went to the mall to ask Mark Lenonard who was a professional Santa
Claus to visit the hospital to give Sarah the gift of hope through
encouragement and prayer.
A year later Sarah surprised Santa
by showing up at the mall where he worked.
by showing up at the mall where he worked.
Here goes the story.
A little boy and his grandmother
came to see Santa at The Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on
santa’s lap, holding a picture of a little girl.
came to see Santa at The Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The child climbed up on
santa’s lap, holding a picture of a little girl.
“Who is this?” – asked Santa,
smiling. “Your friend? Your sister?”
smiling. “Your friend? Your sister?”
“Yes, Santa.” – he replied.
“My sister, Sarah, who is very
sick.” – he said sadly.
sick.” – he said sadly.
Santa glanced over at the
grandmother who was waiting nearby and saw her dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
grandmother who was waiting 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 anyway, Santa, any
possible way that you could come see Sarah? That’s all she’s asked for, for
Christmas, is to see Santa.”
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.
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.”
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 Rick, the assistant location
manager how to get to Children’s Hospital.
all the boys and girls that evening, he retrieved from his helper the name of
the hospital where Sarah was staying. He asked Rick, the assistant location
manager how to get to Children’s Hospital.
“Why?” – Rick asked, with a puzzled
look on his face.
look on his face.
Santa relayed to him the
conversation with Sarah’s grandmother earlier that day.
conversation with Sarah’s grandmother earlier that day.
“Common….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.
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.
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.
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 a 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.
later was Sarah’s aunt, sat in a chair near the bed with a 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!”
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.
weakly, as she tried to escape her bed to run to him.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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…”
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 them all.
hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this
moment, as Sarah beamed at them all.
When the song ended, Santa sat on
the side of the bed again and held Sarah’s frail, small hands in his own.
the side of the bed again and held Sarah’s frail, small hands in his own.
“Now, Sarah,” – he said
authoritatively, “you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting
well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I
expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!”
authoritatively, “you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting
well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I
expect to see you at my house at Mayfair Mall this time next year!”
He knew it was risky proclaiming
that to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he ‘had’ to. He had to
give her the greatest gift he could — not dolls or games or toys — but the gift
of HOPE.
that to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he ‘had’ to. He had to
give her the greatest gift he could — not dolls or games or toys — but the gift
of HOPE.
“Yes, Santa!” – Sarah exclaimed, her
eyes bright. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
eyes bright. He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
Out in the hall, the minute Santa’s
eyes met Rick’s, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed.
eyes met Rick’s, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed.
Sarah’s mother and grandmother
slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa’s side to thank him.
slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa’s side to thank him.
“My only child is the same age as
Sarah.” – he explained quietly. “This is the least I could do.”
Sarah.” – he explained quietly. “This is the least I could do.”
They nodded with understanding and
hugged him.
hugged him.
One year later, Santa Mark was again
back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves
to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his
lap.
back on the set in Milwaukee for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves
to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his
lap.
“Hi, Santa! Remember me?!”
“Of course, I do.” – Santa
proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to
being a ‘good’ Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the
‘only’ child in the world at that moment.
proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to
being a ‘good’ Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the
‘only’ child in the world at that moment.
“You came to see me in the hospital
last year!”
last year!”
Santa’s jaw dropped. Tears
immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her
to his chest.
immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her
to his chest.
“Sarah!” – he exclaimed. He scarcely
recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy — much
different from the little girl he had visited just a year before.
recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy — much
different from the little girl he had visited just a year before.
He looked over and saw Sarah’s
mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their
eyes.
mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their
eyes.
That was the best Christmas ever for
Santa Claus.
Santa Claus.
He had witnessed –and been blessed
to be instrumental in bringing about — this miracle of hope. This precious
little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to
Heaven and humbly whispered, “Thank you, Father. ‘This is a very, Merry
Christmas!”
to be instrumental in bringing about — this miracle of hope. This precious
little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to
Heaven and humbly whispered, “Thank you, Father. ‘This is a very, Merry
Christmas!”
By
Susan Morton Leonard, Santa’s wife
Susan Morton Leonard, Santa’s wife
May the Lord hear and answer all your prayers this yuletide season in Jesus name!
