A Visit From Saint Nicholas: Tennessee Santa Grants Terminally Ill Boy's Dying Wish

Editor's note: The original source for this article, The Knoxville News-Sentinel, has cast doubt on the account of the man playing Santa, Eric Schmitt-Matzen, who told the paper he was holding the boy in his arms when the boy died. See the Sun-Sentinel's followup story here.

KNOXVILLE, TN — Being Santa isn't a job, Santas will tell you. It's a vocation, in the classical sense of the word. A calling. A duty. An almost sacred devotion to spreading holiday cheer year-round.

And children, of course, have the strongest tie to the man in red. In a world that is often confusing even to the wisest of grown-ups, scary to the bravest among us and cold and full of cynicsm and skepticism even to the most idealistic, Santa is goodness and warmth, as true and steady as Polaris, the star that guides us to his home on top of the world.

Meet Eric Schmitt-Matzen. The Knoxville News-Sentinel tells this story:

Scmit-Matzen wears Santa suspenders, even in August, and his cell phone blares out "Jingle Bells," even in April. He's 6-feet, 310 pounds of holiday spirit. He was born Dec. 6 — on Saint Nicholas' Day, because, of course — and these days bears a snow white beard below a mustache crafted so perfectly it's won awards.

Schmitt-Matzen knows about devotion to duty — he's a former Army Ranger — so when a nurse called him up just after he'd arrived home from work as the president of Packing Seals & Engineering in Jacksboro, he sprang to action.

There was a little boy at the hospital, 5 years old, and incredibly sick. The nurse said he wouldn't make it to Christmas and he'd asked to see Santa. Schmitt-Matzen told the nurse he'd put on his gear and be right there. There wasn't even time for that, she said. Schmitt-Matzen had to come right away and he did, piloting his sleigh to the hospital in 15 minutes flat.

The boy's family was gathered in the hallway outside the Intensive Care Unit, tearful, anxious. They had a present for the boy to open — like many 5 year olds in 2016, the little boy wanted something from the TV show "Paw Patrol." Schmitt-Matzen could see the fear and distress on their faces and told them if they thought they were going to cry, to just stay outside, because he'd break down, too. Santa can deal with most every situation, but this was tougher than most.

The family waited in the hallway.

Schmitt-Matzen told Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist Sam Venable what happened next:

“When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep. I sat down on his bed and asked, ‘Say, what’s this I hear about you’re gonna miss Christmas? There’s no way you can miss Christmas! Why, you’re my Number One elf!

“He looked up and said, ‘I am?’

“I said, ‘Sure!’

“I gave him the present. He was so weak he could barely open the wrapping paper. When he saw what was inside, he flashed a big smile and laid his head back down.

‘“They say I’m gonna 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 ’em you’re Santa’s Number One elf, and I know they’ll let you in.

“He said, ‘They will?’

“I said, ‘Sure!’

“He kinda 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 family ran in, realizing what had happened. Schmitt-Matzen handed the boy to his mother and ran out of the hospital, crying the whole way. He had a hard time steering that sleigh, for the tears had clouded his twinkling eyes.

He told Venable that it almost forced him into retirement, but that he had one more gig scheduled and the laughing and smiling children were all he needed to convince him that he needed to press on, that Santa is needed now, just as Santa has always been needed.

Fellow Santas on Facebook told Schmitt-Matzen how proud he'd made them.

"Truly the example of St Nicholas," one wrote. "You handled that in a phenomenal way, Eric. God bless you brother for being able to do that for that little boy. Prayers for you and his family."

So, yes, America, there is a Santa Claus. He lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, nay, 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

Image via Flickr user ripstheskull, used under Creative Commons