All a terminally ill Nashville boy wanted for Christmas was to meet Santa Claus — and he did, and then died in Old St. Nick’s arms.
The 5-year-old was minutes away from death when a nurse at the Tennessee hospital where he was being treated called Eric Schmitt-Matzen, a 300-plus-pound mechanical engineer who looks like a real-life Kris Kringle.
The 60-year-old, who slips into a Santa outfit for about 80 gigs a year, didn’t even have time to change into his regular getup.
He rushed to the hospital 15 minutes later in only his Santa suspenders — though he still looked the part with his long, white beard and prodigious belly. The nurse handed him a gift she had ready for the sick boy.
“When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep. I sat down on his bed and asked, ‘Say, what’s this I hear about you’re gonna miss Christmas? There’s no way you can miss Christmas. Why, you’re my number one elf,’” he recalled to Knoxville News Sentinel.
The unnamed boy perked up, using his last burst of energy to unwrap the toy.
“They say I’m gonna die,” the boy told Schmitt-Matzen. “How can I tell when I get to where I’m going?”
Schmitt-Matzen replied: “When you get there, you tell ‘em you’re Santa’s number one elf, and I know they’ll let you in.”
The boy then gave Santa a last hug.
“I wrapped my arms around him. Before I could say anything, he died right there. I let him stay, just kept hugging and holding on to him,” Schmitt-Matzen told the paper.
The boy’s mom ran in moments later screaming, “No, no, not yet,” which caused all the nursing staff to break down in tears — and left Schmitt-Matzen devastated.
“I spent four years in the Army with the 75th Rangers and I’ve seen my share of [stuff],” he said. “But I ran by the nurses’ station bawling my head off. I know nurses and doctors see things like that every day, but I don’t know how they can take it.”
Schmitt-Matzen said the moment happened several weeks ago, and it almost made him give up playing Santa. But he managed to attend one more event.
“When I saw all those children laughing, it brought me back into the fold. It made me realize the role I have to play — for them and for me.”
8 comments:
😭 That is sad
The Lord work in mysterious ways. A man who plays Santa helped a young boy be guided to heaven with a smile on his face and while his parents are devastated at losing their young son, at least they can take comfort that the didn't die alone or afraid, but happy as oddly as that sounds.
Very well put. I agree.
Is there anything worse than a young child dying?
AllenS, I don't think so.
It really was heartbreaking.
Jane: So how ever did you get the newest version of Halo? It's not due out for another six months.
Ned: Well, let's just say I said some things to the Make-A-Wish people that I'm not totally proud of.
- 17 Again (2009)
We all have a role to play, or in other words, a purpose and that purpose is the giving and receiving of Light.
Santa was where he needed to be and he gathered the strength needed to embrace the moment. Reading this story didn't break my heart, it strengthened it with the awareness that love, light and the goodness Santa embodies are the gifts that truly matter. And there are still people in this world, costumed or otherwise, willing to give them.
Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
Good on Santa for showing up and providing the arms and words that allowed this little one to realize the comfort and courage needed to move on to whatever is beyond. Based on my readings of Near Death Experiences, I'm holding onto the belief there was Something as good as Santa on the other side to welcome a little boy who suffered and endured much during his short time here.
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