SARASOTA – Christmas is a time to be home with the family. But, for some Suncoast residents, Christmas Day was spent at Sarasota Memorial Healthcare.. But, wait, there was a very special visitor: Courtney McCafferey’s son Jace is in the pediatric ward. Santa stopped by with a gift for Jace.
Milan and Nathan Zammit did not expect to be at SMH on Christmas Day, but their son was eight days late.
“We’re weren’t supposed to be here today,” Milan Zammit said. “But he took his sweet time and we had a really easy delivery, and he’s been a dream, and he’s really happy to go home and meet his sisters today.”
Also born on the 23rd, Clarke Millslagle is for parent Laura and Joe, the best Christmas present ever.
“It’s quite an exciting way to spend Christmas,” Laura Millslagle said. “It definitely breaks up the monotony. We’ve been without him for so long, we’re just so lucky to have him.”
We talked to Santa about what a trip to SMH means to him:
“It’s pure joy in here,” Santa said. “And seeing everybody’s smiling faces. And, it’s a real gift to be able to do this.”
And, now this would be the time to get the kids out of the room because Santa is about to get real and break character. After being Santa for about 12 years, Father, Greg Kalish, chose to step down. Keeping it in the family, Benjamin is the new Santa.
“I decided it was time to pass along the candy cane,” Greg Kalish said.
Let’s call Greg Santa Emeritus. And, it’s not a totally new gig for Ben. Since he was 12, Ben has been an elf at his father’s make that Santa’s side.
“You put the suit on, and you see the children, and all of sudden you become Santa Claus,” Kalish said.
