Santa Grants Final Christmas Wish To Dying Child, Bursts Into Tears After 5-Yr-Old Dies In His Arms.

Eric Schmitt-Matzen might just be the real Saint Nick. The 6 foot, 310 lb, sixty year old sports an impressive white beard and a jolly attitude you’d expect from the big man himself. Matzen shows up to 18 gigs every Christmas season – most of them at the hospital – to brighten up the day of kids who need him. But last week, Matzen got a call that changed his life forever.

“The telephone rang. It was a nurse I know who works at the hospital. She said there was a very sick 5-year-old boy who wanted to see Santa Claus. I told her, ‘OK, just let me change into my outfit.’ She said, ‘There isn’t time for that. Your Santa suspenders are good enough. Come right now.”

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Eric Schmitt-Matzen

Matzen made it to the hospital in 15 minutes and the parents of the young boy pointed him into the room. The little boy had very little time left.

“When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep. I sat down on his bed and asked, ‘Say, what’s this I hear about you’re gonna miss Christmas? There’s no way you can miss Christmas! Why, you’re my Number One elf!’ He looked up and said, ‘I am?’ ‘I said, ‘Sure!'”

Matzen then went on to recount the moments that followed. Grab the tissues.

“I gave him the present. He was so weak he could barely open the wrapping paper. When he saw what was inside, he flashed a big smile and laid his head back down.”

‘“They say I’m gonna die,’ he told me. ‘How can I tell when I get to where I’m going?’

“I said, ‘Can you do me a big favor?’

“He said, ‘Sure!’

“When you get there, you tell ’em you’re Santa’s Number One elf, and I know they’ll let you in.

“He said, ‘They will?’

“I said, ‘Sure!’

“He kinda sat up and gave me a big hug and asked one more question: ‘Santa, can you help me?’

“I wrapped my arms around him. Before I could say anything, he died right there. I let him stay, just kept hugging and holding on to him.

“Everyone outside the room realized what happened. His mother ran in. She was screaming, ‘No, no, not yet!’ I handed her son back and left as fast as I could.”

And as the Army veteran left the hospital, he was crying so hard he couldn’t see the road. When he finally got home, Matzen considered hanging up his Santa suit forever… it was just too much to bear in the moment.

But the next day at another gig, the smiling and laughing children reminded Matzen that he, and his suit, had a purpose.

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