{"id":70036,"date":"2023-12-15T18:03:05","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T15:03:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/armenia23.ru\/?p=70036"},"modified":"2023-12-15T18:04:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T15:04:16","slug":"a-little-boy-suffering-from-a-terminal-illness-received-his-last-wish-to-santa-claus-before-passing-away","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/armenia23.ru\/?p=70036","title":{"rendered":"A little boy suffering from a terminal illness delivered his last wish to Santa Claus before passing away\u2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

In most cases, the whole family gets together to celebrate Christmas, and the air is filled with joy as individuals exchange gifts. <\/p>\n

Unfortunately, a local Santa Claus chose to grant a boy’s last wish, and the story that followed was one of sorrow.<\/p>\n

In December 2016, BBC News reported that Eric Schmitt-Matzen, president and owner of Packing Seals & Engineering in Jacksboro and a mechanical engineer,<\/p>\n

would dress up as the beloved Christmas figure each year. He was shocked to get a call one day requesting Santa for a unique situation.<\/p>\n

After hearing that a little kid, who was five years old and suffering from an undisclosed medical ailment, wished to meet him, he made an instant dash to a Tennessee hospital.<\/p>\n

To avoid becoming \u2018the happy guy\u2019 and ruining the visit for the little kid, Schmitt-Matzen warned his relatives to remain outside the room if they planned to cry or show excessive emotion.<\/p>\n

\u2018Verily, I beg you, leave this room immediately…\u2019 He recalls assuring the family in a December 2016 interview with WCBD News 2 that he would \u2018sit out there and cry with you\u2019 afterwards.<\/p>\n

He arrived just as the young man’s mother had ordered a \u2018Paw Patro\u2019 plush toy, which he presented to <\/p>\n

the boy as a present. Due to his inability to handle the task alone, Schmitt-Matzen offered to assist him.<\/p>\n

He informed the long-suffering child that he had spent some time ago making the present.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He remembered at the time that the small youngster was more worried about missing the Christmas celebrations <\/p>\n

than he was about dying because, for the most part, children are quite innocent and do not really comprehend the notion of death.<\/p>\n

Schmitt-Matzen, disguised as Santa Claus, told the youngster he was \u2018Santa’s number one elf\u2019when he <\/p>\n

\u2018gets up those pearly gates\u2019 in response to the boy’s question about where he would go after death. This was reported by NBC News.<\/p>\n

The tiny child sat up, hugged him, and said, \u2018Santa, can you help me?\u2019 when they had finished their conversation. Sadly, the young child died in his grasp at that precise time.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

He said, \u2018I looked up, tears streaming down my face, and looked over at the window and that’s when (his) mom started screaming.\u2019That’s when he felt the life drain from him.<\/p>\n

He hurried out of the hospital as soon as possible after the encounter.<\/p>\n

\u2018I seen my fair share of (things) during my four years in the Army with the 75th Rangers. However, I went by the nursing station sobbing uncontrollably,\u2019 he remembered.<\/p>\n

He was unable to let go of the sentimental event, and at one point he considered giving up on his Santa Claus costume. However, he later understood that he had to act in the children’s best interests.<\/p>\n

\u2018Seeing all those kids laughing made me feel like I belonged again.\u2019 It helped me recognize the part I must play. For both of us, he remarked.<\/p>\n

Additionally, he said to BBC News, \u2018I’ll do it if somebody calls.\u2019 Though it aches, I’ll persevere.<\/p>\n