Santa's
'Mistake' Becomes Christmas Miracle
(AP)
EAU CLAIRE, Wis Timing is everything for Santa Claus.
Jamie
Guibord learned that lesson -- to his delight -- after deciding to make use of
a homemade Santa suit and cheer up children at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Guibord,
31, said it started with an inspiring holiday e-mail.
"I
got one about a man who was a Santa Claus and went to a hospital and made an impact
on a gal who was in pretty bad shape," Guibord said. "She pulled through,
and he described how good that made him feel."
The
Santa suit made by his mother, Roxi Janecke of Chippewa Falls, normally gets one
use a year -- for Guibord's three sons, ages 2, 4 and 6.
After
reading the e-mail, he decided it would serve a good purpose at the hospital.
"I
just wanted to use it to help kids and families," he said.
He
got approval to visit children at the hospital.
His
employer Paul Madsen at RainMaster Lawn Systems chipped in money for presents.
His family handled gift-wrapping chores.
When
Guibord, as Santa, went to the hospital Monday night, he mistakenly got off the
elevator on the sixth floor, thinking it was a pediatric ward.
He
visited several children in one wing, but in another wing he saw a room filled
with relatives visiting 51-year-old cancer patient Doug Dregney of Mondovi, a
father of four and grandfather of three.
"They
looked pretty down, so I asked if I could come in the room and give the youngsters
a few gifts," Guibord said. "The family got the kids involved, and it
was a very nice time. The family had a lot of fun with it, and I was thrilled."
Even
more thrilled was Robert Dregney of Mondovi, Doug's uncle.
During
the visit, Guibord had made a trip to the parking lot for more gifts, including
a RainMaster shirt that the Dregney family later used to connect Santa with the
business.
On
Tuesday, Robert Dregney gave Madsen a letter of appreciation for Santa -- along
with a check to fund more visits.
"I
truly witnessed a Christmas miracle tonight," he wrote. "I was on the
sixth floor at Sacred Heart Hospital visiting my nephew who is dying of brain
cancer. All of his children and grandchildren were there and feeling sad and depressed,
when out of nowhere came Santa Claus with presents for all. ...
"I
know you thought you were on the wrong floor, but believe me, you were on the
right floor tonight."
