St. Nick Visits St. Christopher's Hospital For Children
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- St. Christopher's Hospital for Children welcomed a special visitor today.
For 39 years, Jim McClusky has dressed up as Santa Clause and visited children in the hospital.
"We look at both sides of it, the medically challenged and the financially challenged and say that hey, you aren't forgotten. We are here," McClusky told KYW Newsradio.
Heather Nelson is spending the holiday in the hospital, alongside her 4-year-old daughter Laynie.
"This is her second diagnosis of cancer. She is considered to be high risk, so we're going to be here for a little bit," Nelson said, admitting she was delighted as her daughter was to see Santa. "That makes me happy just to see her smile and be happy."
Nelson says it's hard to focus on the holiday when you're in the hospital:
"Because you're more concerned about your child and what's going on with them," she explained.
McClusky and his team of elves bring presents with them, but he says their goal is mostly to bring emotional support.
"We let them know that we're with them. What we do with that is we sort of provide a little bit of hope," McClusky said.
"She's actually said to Santa before, the only thing she really wants for Christmas is no more cancer- and that's what all of us parents want, is no more cancer," Nelson said.
