‘Pretty special surprise:’ Santa makes annual Christmas stop at Nanaimo hospital

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Santa, alongside his Elf and paramedic Brian Thornburn landed at NRGH in Nanaimo the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 12, to spread cheer to hospital patients and staff. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Child life specialist on pediatrics at NRGH Sandra Hirota said it’s always a big deal when Santa comes to town, and not just for their patients and families.

It’s an event which can lift a lot of spirits.

“We always like seeing him land out of the Helijet and come and greet all the kiddos in emerg and make the way up to pediatrics. It’s so meaningful during this time, brings a lot of cheer and a lot of comfort for sick patients and families. For staff, it builds our spirits up for the holiday season.”

Patients of all ages were thrilled to see Santa walking the halls of NRGH, stopping to wish a Merry Christmas and handing out toys to all the boys and girls.

One-year-old Dove gets a gift of a stuffed animal inside the emergency room at NRGH. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Erin Sowerby Greene and her husband Cameron von Poser happened to be at NRGH on Tuesday, getting a check-up for their two-month-old baby Aura.

von Poser said it was a “pretty special surprise” to see Santa.

“You only see him really once or twice a year, it’s great. he has a busy schedule this time of year, but it’s nice for him to stop by and see all the deserving kids here.”

von Poser and Sowerby Greene recently raised over $35,000 for Island Health hospitals for cooling bassinets known as cuddle cots, which allows parents to spend more time with their child in the event of a stillbirth, in honour of their daughter Briar who was born still.

Joining Santa for the air ambulance flights is Brian Thornburn, one of BC Emergency Health Services’ specially trained infant transport team paramedics who care for and transport babies and young children with acute or traumatic emergency health needs to hospital.

“It’s an honour to be part of a dedicated critical care team like ITT that has provided specialized paramedic care to the province’s youngest patients since 1976,” said Thornburn. “We usually meet patients and their families during stressful medical emergencies, so joining them instead for a wonderful holiday tradition is incredibly special.”

Santa spent about an hour touring through NRGH before climbing back aboard the helicopter to continue his journey to the Lower Mainland, where he visited hospitals in Abbotsford, Surrey, and Vancouver, including the BC Children’s Hospital and the BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow