Guest Post by Wayne Dupree
You rarely ever hear of tragic stories like this but this was not a TV show or movie, this was real life. A terminally ill kid wanted to see Santa Claus in his hospital room, and Eric Schmitt-Matzen who fits the bill made the trip to make his dreams come true.
Little did Schmitt-Matzen know that the young boy’s illness was that bad. Nobody is ever prepared for this especially a stranger who does this out of the kindness of his own heart.
When Schmitt-Matzen got to the hospital, he met with the family and then met with the young kid who was so happy to meet the man in the red suit. That’s when the story gets complicated.
From USAToday:
“I’d just gotten home from work that day,” recalled Schmitt-Matzen, 60, a mechanical engineer and president of Packing Seals & Engineering in Jacksboro.
“The 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.
“I told her, ‘OK, just let me change into my outfit.’ She said, ‘There isn’t time for that. Your Santa suspenders are good enough. Come right now.’ ”
Schmitt-Matzen got to the hospital in 15 minutes. He met the lad’s mother and several family members.
“She’d bought a toy from (the TV show) PAW Patrol and wanted me to give it to him,” he said, voice growing husky. “I sized up the situation and told everyone, ‘If you think you’re going to lose it, please leave the room. If I see you crying, I’ll break down and can’t do my job.’ ”
Nobody entered with him. They watched, sobbing, from a hallway window in the Intensive Care Unit.
“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 looked up and said, ‘I am?’
“I said, ‘Sure!’
“I 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.
‘“They say I’m gonna die,’ he told me. ‘How can I tell when I get to where I’m going?’
“I said, ‘Can you do me a big favor?’
“He said, ‘Sure!’
“When you get there, you tell ’em you’re Santa’s Number One elf, and I know they’ll let you in.
“He said, ‘They will?’
“I said, ‘Sure!’
“He kinda sat up and gave me a big hug and asked one more question: ‘Santa, can you help me?’
“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.
“Everyone outside the room realized what happened. His mother ran in. She was screaming, ‘No, no, not yet!’ I handed her son back and left as fast as I could.
Mr. Eric Schmitt-Matzen, you are such a great person. To give that child a glimmer of hope and happiness is the greatest gift anyone could give. My heart broke as I read this, there are tears still in my eyes. Keep spreading joy, kind sir. Keep spreading joy.
That little boy was not afraid because Santa, who represents everything good, was holding him in his arms. It would be devastating for this Santa to remember this, but hopefully the fact that the child was not afraid will help him to be thankful he was there. Telling the little boy that he was his number one elf and to share that when he got to Heaven was ingenious and I would be willing to bet that is exactly what this sweet child did when he met Jesus.
Read this on MSN before coming here. Had to choke it down.
Holding back the tears.
There’s a support group for people who’ve lost a child, any age, any reason. http://www.compassionatefriends.org
We are all that little boy. We are all that Santa. I hope we all receive the gift of seeing ourselves and one another in this light. Let’s follow His instruction to love one another as He has loved us….without reserve. “God bless us, every one!”
Merry Christmas
i cried and i don’t ever cry
same here
When Eric reaches the pearly gates I suspect he’ll find a red carpet waiting.
God bless Mr. Eric Schmitt-Matzen, a genuine American hero. He held himself together in a situation that few us (myself included) could be sure of managing. He had just the right words and set an innocent soul at ease for the transition: death had no dominion and Mr. Schmitt-Matzen won himself a place in the heart of folks of good will from every walk of life.
+1000
Santa “represents everything good”, and Jesus is just kind of the afterthought? Makes sense.
I hear you Stucky. But I don’t hold it against folks. All my neighbors have Christmas lights adorning their houses. I’ve an unlit manger scene in my front window. We’re all God’s children. One of my favorite lines from “The Sopranos” was from Junior Soprano (Tony’s Uncle) at a funeral wake. He’s looking at a memorial prayer card for the deceased and he says to no one in particular. “Prayer cards. A million dollars for Honus Wagner. Not jack shit for Jesus.”
A dying five year old is much more likely to understand “love one another” from talking to a flesh and blood Santa Claus than he is from reading about Jesus.
Yes Stucky, in a child’s eyes, Santa does represent everything good. Can you not just let it be? The root of Stucky is stuck, it appears to be an appropriate handle.
Tinker Bell ,I give you a hug for Christmas.Mad dog to.
Great story , brightens my heart to know goodness in this otherwise insane world in which we live.
For once I might take you up on an offer…As long as I dont have to get close to that hernia.
All kidding aside a Great story for season. I shared it with folks in office and sent it along to where my wife works.
Anyways seeing as I am in Holiday Spirit.
An early Merry Christmas.
There is still hope.
Damnit I hate sad shit. I hate it when little kids are hurt or die. I hate fucking crying over somebody I never met, and I feel bad that the only thing I can do for them is cry. There aren’t enough good swear words in moments like this.
@Stucky: A person who gives without asking for anything in return to the only really good people on the planet (kids) is Christ. If he lives in a fuck stick like me and you then he certainly lives in a 100% brass balled MAN named Eric Schmitt-Matzen. I doubt there is one person in 1000 that does something as good for another human as he did for that little boy. To be able to die in peace, comfort and love is the best death any child could hope for. That man is a fucking saint.
I fucking hate crying.
Eric Schmitt-Matzen is a great man.
And no, I didn’t cry. Almost had a tear though. Which is saying a lot for me.
Prayers for the family, and the Santa.
Prayers for the little one’s return home.
Crying at 6:22 am, sucks big time.
My wee one is getting an extra strong hug this morning.