Technically, Santa won't make it to the Treasure Valley until the wee hours of Friday morning, but some of his special helpers made an advance delivery to those most in need of holiday cheer.
It is the eve of the most magical day for little boys and girls, but for those here at the St. Luke's Children’s Hospital, Santa is overshadowed by sickness.
"It's not where we expected to be on Christmas Eve," said Jeremy Rausch.
For Jeremy Rausch, it's a 7-year-old daughter with appendicitis.
“It's been hard," said Carren Checketts.
For Carren Checketts, it's a 4-year-old daughter with pneumonia. Each child, each parent, has a different story. What they share is the wish to be home for the holidays with healthy children.
To brighten spirits, the Ada County Paramedics passed out presents and books to about 30 children on the pediatrics floor today.
“We're from Ada County Paramedics and we're here to give some of the children some gifts," said Dina Hardaway, an Ada County Paramedic.
For Hardaway, it's a professional and personal calling.
“I am a parent and I was stuck in the hospital during the holidays with a child and your main focus is that child,” Hardaway said. “You don't pay attention to what's going on around you, so it's easy to overlook the holidays and if we can just bring this little glimmer of happiness to them while they're here, that's what our heart wants to do.”
It was a gesture that meant a lot to both parents and their children.
"It means the world to me right now,” Checketts said. “Having to be here with her all the time, we just wouldn't be able to do a whole lot for Christmas, at all. It gives her something special to hold on to during this time.
As the children tore into the wrapping paper, parents said they believed it helped their kids just to be kids again.
"It makes things a lot better,” Rausch said. “She has moments where she forgets that she's sick and she's a kid again.”
This is the second year Ada County Paramedics have delivered gifts to children in the hospital. Not only are they going to continue this tradition, but they're going to expand it. Next they're going to make deliveries in July, as well as December.
The Ada County Paramedics Association donated all the gifts delivered and Barnes and Noble donated 150 books.
