The Story Behind Santa
By: Dr. Randy Britt
Christmastime twenty-six years ago, I was having a conversation with technician, Pat Ferrari,
at my veterinary practice. She was telling me the heartbreaking story of a little 5-year-old Cuban
girl named Mercy. Mercy’s biological mother had abandoned her when she was diagnosed with
Leukemia and given less than a year to live. Her only wish was to get a Barbie Dream House and
to ride around with Santa Claus to look at all the beautiful Christmas lights.
Pat’s mother owned a tailor shop in Birmingham and had a finished seamstress in her employ
that worked making handmade clothing. This kind, sweet, wonderful seamstress had taken in the
abandoned little 5-year-old girl. She took this emaciated, sick little child and became her
surrogate mother.
This situation touched me to my very soul. I got in contact with those two ladies and asked if
they would make me a Santa suit so that Mercy’s wish could come true. They immediately went
to work on it and made the most gorgeous Santa suit you could imagine. I continue to use that
same suit today and will welcome our 2011 Christmas season. This special suit became a labor of
love for those two kind ladies, as they would not allow me to pay them for the work they did
while making this special suit.
We also needed a sleigh, so we went to work and cleaned up a 1978 Chevrolet Nova 4-door
car that I owned. The windows were made squeaky clean so Mercy could see all the way around.
We picked Mercy up in “Santa’s Sleigh” and gave her that Barbie Dream House she had wished
for. She was so excited, I don’t think she realized that there were no reindeer and the sleigh was
not your normal Santa sleigh. That night as Pat drove Santa and Mercy through the beautifully
decorated homes in Vestavia, Mountain Brook, Tanglewood and the east side area; a fire started
in my heart that has never stopped. I felt that on that night God made it a point to make every
house glow in the night like individual stars and let the magnificent decorations stand out like
beacons shining on each house…..just for Mercy.
I can’t ever remember seeing a little girl as excited as Mercy was that night. She begged Pat
not to stop driving, so we drove into the night ending up on Shades Crest overlooking the city.
We watched the sky view for almost an hour as we sat there and listened to Christmas music
gazing at the lights of the city. Mercy said she felt like she was flying over the city and she
seemed to be glowing more than the lights below. She finally fell asleep as we drove her home in
the early hours of the morning.
I gave Mercy the back line phone number of my veterinary hospital. She called it her Santa
line and would call me at least once a week. After that December, Mercy’s health began to fail
more rapidly. Her doctors suggested to her sweet guardian angel mother that Mercy be moved to
a warmer climate so that her health might improve. After consulting with her doctor’s, it was
decided to transfer Mercy to the cancer ward at Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida. She
continued to call her Santa line once weekly even though her health was declining rapidly. The
last week in June, Mercy called Santa and with her feeble little voice told him that she was sorry
but she didn’t think she would be here to celebrate that Christmas with him. She asked if she
could have the Barbie Swimming Pool that went with the Dream House as an early present.
My parents, who lived near Tampa, picked Santa up at the airport in mid- July. Santa got off
the plane with that Barbie Swimming Pool and a sack full of trinkets and candy. As my folks
went with Santa to the kids’ cancer ward, a crowd of special little people started to gather. Who
would ever believe that Santa would be in the cancer ward in mid-July? That’s right, Mercy did.
She crawled up in Santa’s lap and rocked, holding that Barbie Pool for over an hour as he passed
out trinkets and candy to all those special children. Six hours later he had written down all the
wishes and wants of each child. I think my parents were even more touched by this visit than
Santa. Sweet little Mercy passed away two weeks after that visit.
Watching Mercy gave Pat and I a different perspective on the magic of Christmas. It was an
experience that will be forever imprinted on our hearts. For the next three years Pat joined Santa
as his helper- the first season as Rudolph, the next as Frosty and the next as an elf. Each year we
stayed busy spreading around the spirit of Christmas and carrying out our mission. We visited
nursing homes and day cares, delivering puppies, kittens and toys along the way. One family lost
all of their presents due to a burglary. Santa and his helpers took up donations and made sure
they had a Merry Christmas.
Santa visited the cancer ward at Children’s Hospital in memory of Mercy that year following
her death. Every year the doctors and nurses have helped Santa make each child’s Christmas
wish come true. Local merchants and organizations donated gifts. Volunteers were there to help
as Santa gave out gifts to each child. This special group became known as the Candle Lighters.
At that second party, Santa met a young boy with cancer from Cahaba Heights. It was through
that association that he met Lynn Thompson, whose young daughter, Charlotte, had a tumor on
her kidney. Lynn was in charge of a small group called Camp-Smile-A-Mile (SAM). We shared
the same passion and mission to help children suffering from this disease. I quickly became their
official Santa in 1985. Camp SAM, at that time, was a small group; but due to Lynn’s total
dedication and relentless drive to help these special kids, Camp SAM grew. She shares this
passion with others and, along with hundreds, has made Camp SAM not just a Christmas party,
but a year-round support group that sponsors summer camps and many other functions for these
special kids and their families too. Merchants and local organizations donate gifts to the
Christmas party. In 2010, I am proud to say that Camp SAM hosted over 400 kids at the party. A
special thanks to Lynn and her support family for their total dedication and selfless giving of
themselves to this great cause. Also, thanks to the support of local television anchor, Mike
Royer, Camp SAM was presented to the people of Alabama. He would advertise Camp SAM’s
Christmas party on the news. In doing so, he exposed the hearts of so many giving and
compassionate people of this area to this great organization.
Santa could not tell this story without talking about another special young man by the name of
Tim Turner. Santa was asked to visit Tim when he was 12. Tim had cerebral palsy and had
always wanted to have Santa come “take his order”. Jo and Short Woodruff of Sterrett, AL, made
the arrangements to have Santa visit. They were long time friends of the family and were there at
that first visit 25 years ago. Jo was the local mail carrier. Shorty, her husband, suffered from
retinal detachment and was blind. Shortly after that first “taking order session” he vowed that
this event would have to be an annual event. Tim never mentally matured beyond the age of
about seven years old and never lost the magic of Santa Claus and Christmas. Having Santa
come take his order was always the highlight of his year. It became so important that every year
Tim’s house would be filled with relatives and friends from the community. They would gather
just to share the joy, enthusiasm and anticipation of seeing Santa’s annual visit.
Because of his medical condition, Tim was confined to a wheel chair and required total care.
Junior and Kathy Turner, Tim’s parents, devoted every minute to the care of their beloved son.
Never have I seen more devoted parents than Junior and Kathy. Junior built a ceiling rail system
in their house that went from Tim’s bed to the bathtub and to the living room. Junior also put a
hoist on this rail system to move Tim, as he weighed about 180 pounds. Junior and Kathy gave
unselfishly of their life until Tim passed away at the age of 37. There was not one minute that
Junior, Kathy or Eunice (Tim’s grandmother) was not physically at his side. A donated cruise
was given to them in appreciation and recognition of their love and devotion to their special son.
Thanks to Mike Royer, a local broadcast captured the moment when Santa presented the couple
with the news of the cruise.
As the years went by, I had trouble explaining to the children why Santa had on a fake beard.
I dealt with the uneasiness by telling them that I was just one of Santa’s many helpers. So every
year I start in July or August growing my hair and beard longer. By December the hair is Santalong. Thanks to Eric Egea and his staff at Oak Street Hair Group Inc. in Crestline, Santa’s hair
becomes snow white. (His beard is naturally white!)
Santa’s calendar fills up very quickly from December 1st on. Santa will visit any group or
organization that asks- nursing homes, daycares, private parties, etc. even down to the smallest
request. Last year Santa even went to Bridgeport to visit a family to have “Supper with Santa”.
So, if you have the need for a Santa visit (with or without pay) you can contact him through Britt
Animal Hospital at 967-2511. Any pay is donated to Camp Smile-A-Mile.
The first Wednesday in December is dedicated to doing pictures of your pet and/or family with
Santa for a donation to Camp SAM. Bones Long, a long-time friend and photographer, donates
his time, equipment and film at no charge to the cause. These photos are great to use as your
Christmas cards. Extra copies are available to order.
I wish all of you could experience the feeling of having that magic come alive in all of those
little kids when they sit on Santa’s lap. Everyone can experience the magic of Christmas, even
the very old. I remember this 92-year-young lady I met during a visit to a local nursing home.
She was standing in line with the other ladies, patiently waiting for their chance to sit in Santa’s
lap, holding onto their walkers. That 92-year-old matron said with a weak, raspy voice, “Honey,
hold on to me cause I haven’t sat in your lap in over 80 years!”
So I challenge you this upcoming Christmas season, even if you’re feeling like Scrooge and
“Bah Humbug”, to get involved with the youth and particularly those special, less fortunate ones
with maladies they don’t deserve. Remember the elderly and those sad lonely people out there in
our world. And more so, now when these times of poor economy, bad financial situations,
unemployment, foreclosures, are affecting the hurting and the indigent, you will discover that
magic of Christmas and Santa Claus.
I believe in Santa ……so does Mercy……so does Tim……do you?