'I cried all the way home': Boy who asked for last wish dies in Santa's arms

[jnelsoninjax]

Quote

 

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Eric Schmitt-Matzen looks every bit the Santa Claus.

His 6-foot frame carries 310 pounds, leaving “just enough of a lap for the kids to sit on,” he says with a gentle Kringley chuckle right out of Central Casting.

No fake facial fuzz for this guy. Schmitt-Matzen’s snowy beard is the real thing, albeit regularly bleached to maintain its whiteness. His shag is so spectacular, in fact, it won first place in the “natural full beard, styled moustache” division of a 2016 national contest sponsored by the Just For Men hair products company.

He’s professionally trained. Custom-tailored in red. Was born on Dec. 6 (that’s Saint Nicholas Day — are you surprised?) Works approximately 80 gigs annually. Wife Sharon plays an authentic Mrs. Claus. His cellphone, with a Jingle Bells ringtone, continually counts down the days until Christmas. Even his civilian attire always includes Santa suspenders.

 

The whole shtick is designed to spread joy and have fun.

Which it does – except for the role he played several weeks ago at a local hospital.

“I cried all the way home,” Schmitt-Matzen told me. “I was crying so hard, I had a tough time seeing good enough to drive.

“My wife and I were scheduled to visit our grandchildren in Nashville the next day, but I told her to go by herself. I was a basket case for three days. It took me a week or two to stop thinking about it all the time. Actually, I thought I might crack up and never be able to play the part again.”

This is what happens when a terminally ill child dies in Santa’s arms.

 

 

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[DocM]

Read that earlier.  Eyes got wet for some reason 

[Danielx64]

Man that's intense  

[astropheed Veteran]

If I were God and a 5 year old came to the gates saying he was Santa's number 1 Elf I'd let him in for sure. That Santa knew just what to say.

[melted98]

I'm 50 years old and when my wife told me about this I cried, so sad, but the best thing is he was granted his final wish

[Skiver Veteran]

Oh man, this was heartbreaking to read but I'm sure that moment, his last moment was full of happiness.

[Hum]

I would too

[FloatingFatMan]

Stories like this both break my heart, and heal my faith in humanity.

 

RIP little elf... 

[techbeck]

Reading that this may be a hoax now.  No one can confirm what Eric Schmitt-Matzen is saying happened.

[Rippleman]

Fake or not, I can't image what the doctors and nurses who specialize in children with terminal illness field feel like each and every day. With 25,000 child deaths a day in the world, makes me feel very guilty just for being alive.

[ctebah]

Damn onion cutting ninjas.

[techbeck]

1 minute ago, Rippleman said:

Fake or not, I can't image what the doctors and nurses who specialize in this area feel like each and every day. With 25,000 child deaths a day in the world, makes me feel very guilty just for being alive.

Agreed. I couldnt deal with that day in and day out.

[Rippleman]

2 minutes ago, techbeck said:

Agreed. I couldnt deal with that day in and day out.

My sister worked with the elderly in this environment. She couldn't handle it and had to get out after a few years, and thats with people at the end of their life... it would take a special kind of person numb to *regular* feelings to deal with people just beginning their life.

[techbeck]

Just now, Rippleman said:

 it would take a special kind of person numb to feelings to deal with people just beginning their life.

I am sure it takes their toll on most people who work in this field.  I wouldnt say they were numb.   I think that they know they are doing good work and trying to help makes a lot of difference in how they feel.