Santa Claus made a special visit to the 11th floor play room of Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital to visit with patients. Santa gives Jordyn Williams, 7, a big hug after their visit together. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa holds 4-month-old Wren Lucio during their visit together. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa Claus rides the elevator up to the 11th floor to visit patients. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Kellen Nykamp, 2, looks up at Santa. Santa made a special visit to Kellen's floor since he was not able to leave and go visit him. He is being treated for neuroblastoma. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa hangs a sleigh bell on Kellen's IV pole. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa gives a big hug to Soniya Zavala, 5, during their visit together. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Parker Carden, 9, tells Santa what he wants for Christmas. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Lilia Damsgaard, 4, holds up the sleigh bell that Santa gave her as a present. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa holds 4-month-old Wren Lucio. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Even though Child Life specialist Rhys VanDemark is on the naughty list, Santa still gave him a big hug. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa poses for a photo with Brayson Zavala, 3, and his sister Yasmin, 1, during their visit. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
After the children visited with Santa, they were allowed to pick out one present to take home. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa gives Lilia Damsgaard, 4, a big hug before she returns to her hospital room. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa gives Cadia Wiseman, 9, a sleigh bell during their visit together. Cadia is being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa had a successful visit at the children's hospital and looks forward to making as many children's wishes come true this Christmas. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Health Beat)
Santa brought along a bag filled with special sleigh bells to give as gifts to the children.
“Do you know where this sleigh bell came from?” Santa asked 7-year-old Jordyn Williams.
“It was on my sleigh last year and this very bell helped us travel all around the world in one night,” he explained. “Elves made these bells and they put magic in them to help my reindeers fly my sleigh. It still has some magic left inside of it.”
Santa told Jordyn to hold the bell tightly in her hand and close her eyes.
“Picture in your mind what it is you want. As you picture it, it will get closer and closer to you. Keep doing that until what you want is right in front of you. But, you’re going to have to pay for that bell,” Santa said. “You’re going to have to give me a hug.”
What can be more sweeter than this? When I was a kid, I also look forward to meet Santa every year. Believing in Santa Claus has been a tradition not just here but worldwide. In my opinion, although a lot of debates if it could affect parenting or this is sort of lie, I think that Santa Claus as part of ‘The Guardians’ is a healthy entity in the imagination of kids. Santa also gives an unexplained joy every holiday season.
What can be more sweeter than this? When I was a kid, I also look forward to meet Santa every year. Believing in Santa Claus has been a tradition not just here but worldwide. In my opinion, although a lot of debates if it could affect parenting or this is sort of lie, I think that Santa Claus as part of ‘The Guardians’ is a healthy entity in the imagination of kids. Santa also gives an unexplained joy every holiday season.