Being stuck in the hospital is generally a pain, but for six-year-old Wyatt Brasseur, Christmas came early.

The youngster was reportedly vibrating with excitement even before Santa鈥檚 ride landed outside the window of his pediatric unit room at Victoria General Hospital.

Santa鈥檚 landing was a little different than usual, thanks to the now 20-year-old tradition of taking a Helijet tour ahead of Christmas itself.

Wyatt was the first of several kids of varying ages and wellness at the hospital in View Royal to get an early visit as Santa hitched a ride in a BCEHS air ambulance for a whirlwind, same-day tour to visit children in pediatric units at six hospitals in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

鈥淲hen we talk with Santa up north, he鈥檚 usually in a position where he鈥檚 saying his reindeer are a little tired so we offer him 1,500 horses,鈥� said Danny Sitnam, president and CEO of Helijet, which operates Sikorsky air ambulance helicopters used by BCEHS.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just a wonderful treat for the children, the parents, all the people who are involved in supporting the program. It鈥檚 just always an eye-opener when we come by to visit the six hospitals on this very special day.鈥�

It鈥檚 a long day that starts at 7 a.m. with a tight schedule to hit hospitals in Greater Victoria, Nanaimo, Vancouver, Abbotsford, Surrey and New Westminster in one day.

鈥淚t鈥檚 worth every minute of it, the welcoming is just pretty humbling,鈥� Sitnam said.

Neither kids nor flights were nothing new for the specially trained longtime paramedic along for the ride this year. What was particularly nice for David Nemec, a paramedic for 38 years and member of the infant transport team since 1999, were the smiles.

鈥淭his is very special, in the fact that I get to come and see the children and families and children in hospital who may not be home for Christmas,鈥� Nemec said, just ahead of departing VGH for Nanaimo hospital. 鈥淧art of our daily job is looking after the babies and children in the province so seeing them in here and giving a little bit of smiles and joy to them means everything.鈥�

He鈥檚 also the interim unit chief of Station 283 鈥� the Infant Transport Team station based at BC Children鈥檚 Hospital 鈥� whose paramedics care for, and transport, babies and young children with acute or emergency health needs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 actually overwhelming to see the joy we bring, to be part of something that鈥檚 so good for the families. It鈥檚 an emotional high,鈥� Nemec said. 鈥淭oday is all about the children and families that can鈥檛 be home for Christmas so we鈥檙e all here as one team making everything better for them.鈥�