buckhound Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 WOW this is truly sad my heart goes out to the family and friends.... Terminally ill child dies in Santa's armsA 60-year-old Tennessee man who spends time volunteering as Santa Claus at a local hospital recently granted a 5-year-old terminally ill boy his final wish this holiday season, and held him as he died in his arms. “I spent four years in the Army with the 75thRangers, and I’ve seen my share of [stuff],” Eric Schmitt-Matzen told USA Today. “But I ran by the nurses’ station bawling my head off. I know nurses and doctors see things like that every day, but I don’t know how they can take it.” Schmitt-Matzen, a mechanical engineer and president of Packing Seals & Engineering in Jacksboro, Tennessee, had arrived at the unidentified hospital and met the boy’s mother and family members, who were also unidentified. A nurse had called with the special request and given him a toy to offer the child during his visit, USA Today reported. “When I walked in, he was laying there so weak, it looked like he was ready to fall asleep,” Schmitt-Matzen told the news outlet. “I sat down on his bed and asked, ‘Say, what’s this I hear about you’re going to miss Christmas? There’s no way you can miss Christmas! You’re my No. 1 elf!’” “He looked up and said, ‘I am?’ I said ‘Sure.’” Schmitt-Matzen told USA Today that he watched him open the present and smile before he lay back down. “’They say I’m going to 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 them you’re Santa’s No. 1 elf and I know they’ll let you in.’ He said, ‘They will?’ I said, ‘Sure.’” “He kind of 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,” The boy’s death left Schmitt-Matzen questioning whether he could continue donning the signature white beard and red suit for other children, but he returned for other sick children and saw the effect it had on them. “When I saw all those children laughing, it brought me back into the fold. It made me realize the role I have to play. For them and for me,” http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/12/12/terminally-ill-child-dies-in-santas-arms.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Oh man, that's rough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikejd Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Tough read right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 That's 10 warning points for you buckhound for making me cry at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TroutandBucks Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 That is super sad! AWM #2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleM Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Yea, I red that elsewhere this morning. Had to stop ding what I was doing for a few minutes and re-group ................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckhound Posted December 12, 2016 Author Share Posted December 12, 2016 sorry rusty didn't mean to make you cry but if you didn't I would think a lot less of you..my son is five and that really hit home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefhunter Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 (edited) Damned allergies making my eyes leak Edited December 12, 2016 by Chefhunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderchicken Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Wow!! That's so sad!! God bless that kid!! Mathews Halon United Bowhunters of NJ NWTF - Tri County Longbeards New Jersey Outdoor Alliance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimC1965 Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Always hug your children and tell them, how much you love them and how proud of them you are, every chance you get. You never know what lies ahead of us. Nanuk, Sharpdogs and mikejd 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostBear Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 Well that sucks, lim balling my eyes out here! It was a gracious thing he did, bukuu props to Santa. Hunt with a Vizsla, cause life's to short to hunt with an ugly dog! RIP Tilly monster. (Attila) 2004-2017. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redman Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 That is the most touching thing I've ever read. It bought tears to my eyes. May that little boy RIP and may that Santa live a long happy life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHbowhunter Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 thanks - just had to dry off my keyboard.... Must have had something in my eyes.... Nothing spooks deer more than my stank… 16 3/4” Live Fluke Release Club I shot a big 10pt once…. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRMCR Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 See Santa is real........... ESTATESALESBYOLGA.COM ALWAYS BUYING ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE ITEMS CALL 908 868 8236 MIKE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not on the rug Posted December 12, 2016 Share Posted December 12, 2016 I saw that this morning and it hit me right in the feels. It took me a few minutes before I could get back to work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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