In an article posted Monday at the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Sam Venable tells the heart-wrenching story of a young boy who died in Santa’s arms after being granted one last wish.
Venable wrote:
āIād just gotten home from work that day,ā recalled Schmitt-Matzen, 60, a mechanical engineer and president of Packing Seals & Engineering in Jacksboro.
āThe telephone rang. It was a nurse I know who works at the hospital. She said there was a very sick 5-year-old boy who wanted to see Santa Claus.
āI told her, āOK, just let me change into my outfit.ā She said, āThere isnāt time for that. Your Santa suspenders are good enough. Come right now.ā ā
Schmitt-Matzen got to the hospital in 15 minutes. He met the ladās mother and several family members.
āSheād bought a toy from (the TV show) PAW Patrol and wanted me to give it to him,ā he said, voice growing husky. āI sized up the situation and told everyone, āIf you think youāre going to lose it, please leave the room. If I see you crying, Iāll break down and canāt do my job.ā ā
Nobody entered with him. They watched, sobbing, from a hallway window in the Intensive Care Unit.
Iām now going to relay what happened next, just as Schmitt-Matzen spoke to me. Space does not allow inclusion of the numerous pauses he took while struggling to maintain composure:
āWhen 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, āSay, whatās this I hear about youāre gonna miss Christmas? Thereās no way you can miss Christmas! Why, youāre my Number One elf!
āHe looked up and said, āI am?ā
āI said, āSure!ā
āI gave him the present. He was so weak he could barely open the wrapping paper. When he saw what was inside, he flashed a big smile and laid his head back down.
āāThey say Iām gonna die,ā he told me. āHow can I tell when I get to where Iām going?ā
āI said, āCan you do me a big favor?ā
āHe said, āSure!ā
āWhen you get there, you tell āem youāre Santaās Number One elf, and I know theyāll let you in.
āHe said, āThey will?ā
āI said, āSure!ā
āHe kinda sat up and gave me a big hug and asked one more question: āSanta, can you help me?ā
āI 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.
Here’s video of the story:
Venable’s entire story can be seen here, and it’s well worth reading…
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