Ho Ho Ho! Santa Delivers Holiday Joy to Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s

With less than a week to go before his busiest business trip of the year, Santa Claus delivered a dose of holiday cheer to some of Cedars-Sinai's youngest patients and their families during a special visit to Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's.

Continuing a beloved Cedars-Sinai tradition, Santa-a close friend of David Marshall, JD, DNP, RN, Cedars-Sinai's senior vice president and chief nursing executive-made bedside visits, accompanied by nurses and other health professionals. With Santa dressed in his signature red velvet suit, complete with a snowy beard and a pair of shiny new black boots adorned with jingling bells, his arrival was heralded before he even entered the room, drawing smiles from patients, families and staff alike.

"This visit is something I look forward to every year," Marshall said. "I even found Santa a new pair of boots for the occasion, because the smallest details can spark the biggest smiles. It's a reminder that compassion and connection are just as important as the care we provide-especially during the holidays-and it's worth every jingle."

In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unitat Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children's, parents received keepsake ornaments imprinted with their baby's footprints, a meaningful memento of their child's first holiday season. Families in Guerin Children's and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit were treated to gingerbread house-making kits, diaper-changing mats and cuddly stuffed animals donated by the Owie BowWowie and Friends Foundation, bringing a sense of holiday magic to the day.

For many families, the visit offered reassurance and joy-small but powerful reminders that they are supported not only medically, but emotionally, throughout their hospital journey.

"Our family hasn't been able to join us yet, since they are traveling from China, so this visit meant a lot to us," said Yan Wang, father of Wayne Wang, born four days ago. "Being able to take Wayne's first photo with Santa and celebrate together as a new family made this moment feel even more special."

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Caring for Newborns-Tips for Parents