Many stores are already displaying their Christmas merchandise, which will undoubtedly prompt children to begin thinking about Old Saint Nick.

This old Saint got a note from one of those children this morning, and it almost broke my heart.

It was from a girl Santa Danny used to visit each year on the last Sunday before Christmas.

Her name is Wendy. Her family has a tradition of getting together during the holiday season, and the event is held at a rented hall in Surrey, BC.

Here is what Wendy wrote in her note to me:

Hi Danny, How are you doing? We plan to do our family Christmas party on December 18th at 1:00 PM at Willoughby Hall. Let me know if you can be Santa Danny. If not, we will have to see if we can get one. Hugs, Wendy

My first reaction was instant excitement, but my brain ushered me back to reality.

Danny, are we supposed to share your excitement? It isn’t even Thanksgiving or Halloween, and you are writing about Christmas, which is still 90 days away! ~ Spanky

I’m sorry, Spanky, that you ran out of fingers and toes to count the number of days. Today, Christmas is 81 or 82 days away, depending on what part of the planet you live on (time zone).

Anyway, let me continue.

As many of my readers know, I used to get dressed up as Santa Claus when I volunteered at the cancer center in Surrey (2011-16), where I was treated for stage 3 throat cancer in 2009. I was given a 40% chance of surviving.

I wrote about my first Christmas as Santa, and here is the link: Not A Creature Was Stirring… story.

That story always brings a few tears of joy each time I read it.

********

I read Wendy’s email and asked myself what I should do.

During my cancer treatments in 2009, I lost a lot of weight – over 100 pounds.

But since then, my health has deteriorated due to the ongoing effects of the radiation.

I recently learned that the effects of radiation therapy could continue for months and years after treatment!

It is now almost impossible for me to speak coherently – and I have other ongoing problems with low blood pressure, wobbly legs, and lung disease.

And I continue losing weight. I am now under 150 pounds – soaking wet.

What should I do – say yes to Wendy and go as the skinniest Santa ever?

I thought about the many times Santa Danny had visited in the past and the children’s reactions when they saw him arrive.

I visited hospitals, palliative care facilities, retirement homes, shopping malls, company parties, and family parties.

I used to charge money for visits to stores and businesses but never to non-profit venues.

I raised several thousand dollars for the BC Cancer Agency and the University of British Columbia’s Oral Cancer Prevention Fund.

I did not keep one penny for myself.

I spent the next few minutes looking back on my Santa Danny visits.

In 2015, I wrote a sad story about Santa Danny visiting a school in Langley, BC. Here is the link: Santa Cried After Visiting Kids At This School (2015).

And then I thought about the last time I was Santa Danny at the BC Cancer Agency clinic in Surrey.

But that visit ended up being one of my worst days, and I drove home, crying my eyes out.

I wrote about that horrible day, and here is the link: This Is Why Santa Danny Cried Today (2019).

Although my heart wants to say yes to Wendy – my voice and skinny stature might ruin the children’s expectations when they see me, and the last thing I want to do is disappoint a young child.

I might think about it and seek input from my friends and readers.

UPDATE: October 6, 2022 – 6:30 AM

I sent Wendy a short note but only asked her to read the story.

I could not admit to her that I would not be able to bring Santa Danny to her family’s party because, in my heart, it was what I wanted to do, but my tiny brain said no.

The last Santa Danny visit with Wendy’s family was just before Covid, two years ago. It was always a thrill for Santa to talk, sing, dance, and play with the children and adults.

I never charged Wendy’s family for Santa Danny’s visit because her husband used to be the general manager of a car dealership in Surrey, and he was the first person who hired me as Santa Claus.

That was on the last Sunday in November, about nine or ten years ago, and it became Santa Danny’s first visit of the year after that.

And Wendy’s family was always the last Santa Danny visit of the year – on the last Sunday before Christmas.

After each Santa Danny visit, Wendy would present me with a bowl full of money that her family had collected for my Santa Danny fundraiser for cancer.

On one visit, I learned that a young child emptied his pocket and gave 75 cents while they were collecting donations—it was all he had.

And that made Santa Danny cry.

And so did learning that Wendy’s adult son died after Santa Danny’s last visit – and that broke my heart.

But this morning, when I woke up, I checked for messages, and there was this one from Wendy:

Hi Danny, I’m speechless! You have done so much for the community through your own personal struggles. I know since covid has happened, it has been a whirlwind and concern for everyone. We would love to have you at our Christmas party but I think the risk to you is still in jeopardy with you being compromised. We would feel terrible if you were to get sick. I’m glad I touched base with you and will continue to be in touch. Take care of yourself, Danny.

Love and Hugs, Wendy

My heart is feeling a bit overwhelmed by the number of responses I have received from readers – including an email from Ruth, the wife of Santa Greg, who is also now retired as Santa – because he has throat cancer, too!

So, I am closing this story with a heavy heart and will leave you with one last word from Santa Danny in this video clip from December 24, 2021:

I have also learned that Santa Danny may not be retiring.

If he cannot find a suitable replacement for being a Santa – he plans to visit retirement homes and palliative care units in the Lower Mainland – as Santa Danny if he is healthy enough.

Never give up, Santa Danny – never give up!

Dedicated to Wendy

I hope my stories are a gift to your head and heart.

Hugs,

Danny

Today’s tune from Danny’s library (purchased):

(Christmas, Christmas, Christmas)
Well, it’s Christmas time, pretty baby
And the snow is falling on the ground
(Christmas, Christmas)
Well, it’s Christmas time, pretty baby
And the snow is falling down,
(Christmas, Christmas)
Well, you be a real good little girl
Santa Claus is back in town
(Christmas, Christmas)

Got no sleigh with reindeer
No sack on my back
You will see me comin’
In a big black Cadillac

Oh, it’s Christmas time, pretty baby (Christmas, Christmas)
And the snow is falling on the ground (Christmas, Christmas)
Well, you be a real good little baby
Santa Claus is back in town, yeah, yeah
(Christmas, Christmas)
(Christmas, Christmas)
(Christmas)

Ah, hah, hah

[Piano solo]

Hang up your pretty stockings
Turn off the light
Santa Claus is comin’
Down your chimney tonight

Oh, it’s Christmas time, pretty baby (Christmas, Christmas)
And the snow is falling on the ground (Christmas, Christmas)
Well, you be a real good little baby
Santa Claus is back in town
(Christmas, Christmas)
(Christmas)

Songwriters: Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

Here’s what Danny is listening to now: These Songs Will Make You Smile Today.