Pediatric Patients Get Special Visitors for Holidays

Santa and his helpers (some of whom play football) visited pediatric patients.

ByABC News
December 23, 2014, 9:52 AM

— -- For many sick children, a visit to the mall to see Santa is out of the question. So this holiday season, Santa came to them -- dropping by local hospitals across the country.

And he brought his helpers, including Baltimore Ravens players, New York City firefighters and others. Who says you have to be an elf to be a helper?

"It's something that’s so special because you see these kids, and they come in for their treatment and they're dreading it," said Lisa Scherber, who directs patient and family programs for the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in Boston. "Everyone sees Santa and they light up."

Several Ravens football players, including linebacker Arthur Brown, paid a surprise visit to the John’s Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.

PHOTO: Arthur Brown of the Ravens paid a special holiday visit to Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Balitimore.
Arthur Brown of the Ravens paid a special holiday visit to Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Balitimore.

And at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Santa was joined by members of the Suffolk County Police Department.

PHOTO: Sick kids get a visit from Santa and a member of the police force at Stony Brook Children's Hospital.
Sick kids get a visit from Santa and a member of the police force at Stony Brook Children's Hospital.

Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, asked Saint Nick to keep his visit virtual this year to avoid spreading the flu and other germs.

PHOTO: Kids get a virtual visit from Santa to lessen the spread of germs.
Kids get a virtual visit from Santa to lessen the spread of germs.

Santa visited Boston children battling cancer as part of the Jimmy Fund's effort to make sure every patient gets to enjoy the holiday festivities.

PHOTO: Santa and this little girl at the Jimmy Fund Clinic were competing for biggest smile.
Santa and this little girl at the Jimmy Fund Clinic were competing for biggest smile.

A helpful elf at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan holds a computer so this little girl can have a video chat with Santa.

PHOTO: Jenna Skeete, 3, was one of many pediatric patients at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital who was able to speak to Santa through the magic of an Internet video call powered by Cisco.
Jenna Skeete, 3, was one of many pediatric patients at NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital who was able to speak to Santa through the magic of an Internet video call powered by Cisco.

And Santa made it to NYU Langone Medical Center with some of his bravest helpers: New York City firefighters.

PHOTO: Santa visited NYU Langone patients today with his helpers: New York City firefighters.
Santa visited NYU Langone patients today with his helpers: New York City firefighters.