Santa whirled into town to the whine of a helicopter鈥檚 turbine and whoosh of rotor wash, instead of the jingle of bells and the clop of reindeer hooves, for his visit to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
The jolly old elf stabled his reindeer once again to make his annual trip aboard one of B.C. Emergency Health Services鈥� Helijet air ambulances to cheer up sick children who are spending their Christmas holidays in hospital.
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital was the second stop of the six-hospital Santa tour, Tuesday, Dec. 12, which started at Victoria General Hospital and included Surrey Memorial, Royal Columbian, Abbotsford Regional, B.C. Children鈥檚 Hospital and B.C. Women鈥檚 Hospital and Health Centre.
鈥淲e鈥檝e come to Nanaimo to spread a little bit of cheer to kids that are stuck in the hospital right now 鈥� make them feel that they are not forgotten and that Santa loves them all,鈥� Santa said upon landing at the helipad.
His visit marked the 19th year Santa has flown in visit sick children in the NRGH pediatric care and neonatal intensive care wards to give them teddy bears to try to brighten their day.
Old Saint Nick was joined by Brian Thornburn, a specially trained infant transport team paramedic, who cares for and transports to hospital babies and children with acute or traumatic emergency health needs.
鈥淭oday it鈥檚 an honour and a privilege to participate in a Santa flight. It鈥檚 my first time and I鈥檓 very excited to be here,鈥� Thornburn said. 鈥淥ur role is to support Santa in spreading cheer to children that can鈥檛 be at home 鈥� maybe home by Christmas, but certainly not home right now 鈥� and we want them to feel that they鈥檝e not been forgotten, that Santa鈥檚 still thinking about them and loves them.鈥�
Thornburn said seeing the children when they鈥檙e in recovery and in more positive circumstances than when they arrived in hospital, and interacting with them on a lighter note is a 鈥済reat joy.鈥�
Dahlia Minter-Booth, 9, was among the children who got a brief, but nonetheless special, visit and a teddy bear from Santa.
鈥淗e鈥檚 cool. It was fun,鈥� Minter-Booth said.
Aura von Poser, who鈥檚 just two and a half months old, likely won鈥檛 remember her first visit from Santa, but her parents, Erin Sowerby Greene and Cameron von Poser, will.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really nice pick-me-up for people who probably don鈥檛 want to be here at this time of year and it鈥檚 nice to see the old guy out and about,鈥� Sowerby Greene said.
鈥淗e has a busy schedule this time of year, but it鈥檚 nice of him to stop by,鈥� said von Poser.
Sandra Hirota, child life specialist at NRGH鈥檚 pediatric ward, said there was one child who had a 鈥渢ough go鈥� right before Santa arrived, but the visit brought a smile to her face.
鈥淚t鈥檚 magical. Everyone loves Santa, both little kids and big kids, so I think everyone鈥檚 excited for the day. Everyone鈥檚 happy, cheerful and it brings a lot of comfort for kids,鈥� Hirota said.
Danny Sitnam, Helijet president and CEO, also joins the annual Santa flights.
鈥淓veryone at Helijet is proud to work with B.C. EHS and its paramedics to provide 24-7 helicopter service for critically ill patients across the province鈥︹�� Sitnam said, in a press release. 鈥淎ll of us at Helijet are happy to have this opportunity to help make the holiday season special for these courageous kids and their families who find themselves in hospital instead of at home as Christmas approaches.鈥�
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