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Santa ditches sleigh for helicopter to drop in at Victoria General Hospital

Holiday cheer came early to the paediatric unit at Victoria General Hospital
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Jack Hembruff tells Santa his Chirstmas wishes at Victoria General Hospital

 

A bit of holiday cheer was added early to the paediatric unit at Victoria General Hospital, Dec. 16.

Santa and one of his elves caught a lift in a helicopter to stop in on the young patients.

He made is rounds to all the rooms, some he could enter and other's he could only chat with the children at the doorway due to kids in isolation rooms.

Six year old Jack Hembruff has been fighting off an infection and it was uncertain if he'd be spending Christmas at his North Saanich home or in the View Royal hospital. Even through the pain he was experiencing, the young boy told Santa he would really like a Super Mario costume and an Octonauts toy.

Ross Hallaway, a paramedic specializing in infant transportation made the rounds with Santa.

"It's great to see the little girls and boys get the holiday spirit," said the paramedic adding it's nice to see the children to give them gifts rather than in emergency situations.

During the Santa visit there were 19 children in the unit and it's uncertain which ones will be spending the holiday there. On average about 15 children spend Christmas at Victoria General Hospital, explained Diane Edwards, child life specialist.

"This visit brings cheer to everyone here, the children, their parents and the staff," Edwards said.

The early Santa visit was made possible through Helijet and B.C. Ambulance.  Santa also stopped at Royal Columbian Hospital in the Fraser Valley and the B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver.