Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 9,012
|
Terminally ill child dies in Santa's arms
Quote:
Eric Schmitt-Matzen rushed to a local in Tennessee hospital after receiving a call about a terminally ill five-year-old boy who wanted to see Santa Claus.
The 60-year-old impersonator said he gave the child a present and a big hug before holding him as he died.
The boy's family watched on from the hallway as they cried, he told the BBC.
"When I felt the life go from him, I looked up, tears running down my face, and looked over at the window and that's when mom started screaming," he said.
Mr Schmitt-Matzen said he had asked family members to remain outside the room if they were going to break into tears when he arrived for the visit.
"I have to be the happy guy that makes this kid feel great and smile and forget his worries," he said.
"I said: 'If you're going to lose it, you have step out in the hallway and afterwards, I'll stand out in the hall and cry with you.'"
The boy asked him where he was going after he died, and Mr Schmitt-Matzen told him he was "Santa's Number One elf" and he would be welcomed.
The child then sat up to give his visitor a hug and he asked one final question: "Santa, can you help me?"
Moments later, he passed away in Mr Schmitt-Matzen's arms.
"It's still tough to relive," he told the BBC.
|
http://www.bbc.com/news/38293294
|
|
|
|
