Hope everyone Believes!

I received this in an email from one of my friends, and thought everyone could read it ... it really touched me.
Gail

Always believe in MIRACLES!! Three years ago, a little boy and his
> >> > >>>grandmother came to see Santa at Mayfair Mall in Wisconsin. The
> >>child
> >> > >>>climbed up on his lap, holding a picture of a little girl.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Who is this?" asked Santa, smiling. "Your friend? Your sister?"
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Yes, Santa," he replied. "My sister, Sarah, who is very sick," he
> >>said
> >> > >>>sadly.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>Santa glanced over at the grandmother who was waiting nearby, and
> >>saw
> >>her
> >> > >>>dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"She wanted to come with me to see you, oh, so very much, Santa!"
> >> > >>>the child exclaimed. "She misses you," he added softly.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>Santa tried to be cheerful and encouraged a smile to the boy's face,
> >> > >>>asking him what he wanted Santa to bring him for Christmas.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>When they finished their visit, the Grandmother came over to help
> >>the
> >> > >>>child off his lap, and started to say something to Santa, but
> >>halted.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"What is it?" Santa asked warmly.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Well, I know it's really too much to ask you, Santa, but ." the old
> >> > >>>woman began, shooing her grandson over to one of Santa's elves to
> >>collect
> >> > >>>the little gift which Santa gave all his young visitors. "The girl
> >>in
> >> > >>>the photograph... my granddaughter well, you see ... she has
> >>leukemia
> >> > >>>and isn't expected to make it even through the holidays," she said
> >> > >>>through tear-filled eyes. "Is there any way, Santa . any possible
> >>way
> >> > >>>that you could come see Sarah? That's all she's asked for, for
> >> > >>>Christmas, is to see Santa."
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>Santa blinked and swallowed hard and told the woman to leave
> >>information
> >> > >>>with his elves as to where Sarah was, and he would see what he could
> >>do.
> >> > >>>Santa thought of little else the rest of that afternoon. He knew
> >>what
> >>he
> >> > >>>had to do. "What if it were MY child lying in that hospital bed,
> >>dying,"
> >> > >>>he thought with a sinking heart, "this is the least I can do."
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>When Santa finished visiting with all the boys and girls that
> >>evening,
> >>he
> >> > >>>retrieved from his helper the name of the hospital where Sarah was
> >> > >>>staying. He asked the assistant location manager how to get to
> >>Children's
> >> > >>>Hospital.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Why?" Rick asked, with a puzzled look on his face.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>Santa relayed to him the conversation with Sarah's grandmother
> >>earlier
> >> > >>>that day. "C'mon.... I'll take you there," Rick said softly.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>Rick drove them to the hospital and came inside with Santa. They
> >>found
> >> > >>>out which room Sarah was in. A pale Rick said he would wait out in
> >>the
> >> > >>>hall.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>Santa quietly peeked into the room through the half-closed door and
> >>saw
> >> > >>>little Sarah on the bed. The room was full of what appeared to be
> >>her
> >> > >>>family; there was the Grandmother and the girl's brother he had met
> >> > >>>earlier that day. A woman whom he guessed was Sarah's mother stood
> >>by
> >> > >>>the bed, gently pushing Sarah's thin hair off her forehead. And
> >>another
> >> > >>>woman who he discovered later was Sarah's aunt, sat in a chair near
> >>the
> >> > >>>bed with weary, sad look on her face. They were talking quietly,
> >>and
> >> > >>>Santa could sense the warmth and closeness of the family, and their
> >>love
> >> > >>>and concern for Sarah. Taking a deep breath, and forcing a smile on
> >>his
> >> > >>>face, Santa entered the room, bellowing a hearty, "Ho, ho, ho!"
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Santa!" shrieked little Sarah weakly, as she tried to escape her
> >>bed
> >>to
> >> > >>>run to him, IVtubes in tact. Santa rushed to her side and gave her
> >>a
> >> > >>>warm hug. A child the tender age of his own son -- 9 years old --
> >>gazed
> >> > >>>up at him with wonder and excitement. Her skin was pale and her
> >>short
> >> > >>>tresses bore telltale bald patches from the effects of chemotherapy.
> >>But
> >> > >>>all he saw when he looked at her was a pair of huge, blue eyes. His
> >> > >>>heart melted, and he had to force himself to choke back tears.
> >>Though
> >> > >>>his eyes were riveted upon Sarah's face, he could hear the gasps and
> >> > >>>quiet sobbing of the women in the room.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>As he and Sarah began talking, the family crept quietly to the
> >>bedside
> >> > >>>one by one, squeezing Santa's shoulder or his hand gratefully,
> >>whispering
> >> > >>>"thank you" as they gazed sincerely at him with shining eyes. Santa
> >>and
> >> > >>>Sarah talked and talked, and she told him excitedly all the toys she
> >> > >>>wanted for Christmas, assuring him she'd been a very good girl that
> >>year.
> >> > >>>As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to
> >>pray
> >>for
> >> > >>>Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded
> >>in
> >> > >>>agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding
> >> > >>>hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed
> >>in
> >> > >>>angels.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Oh, yes, Santa... I do!" she exclaimed.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Well, I'm going to ask that angels watch over you, "he said.
> >> > >>>Laying one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and
> >>prayed.
> >> > >>>He asked that God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this
> >> > >>>disease. He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her.
> >>And
> >> > >>>when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing
> >> > >>>softly, "Silent Night, Holy Night.... all is calm, all is bright."
> >>The
> >> > >>>family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying
> >>tears
> >> > >>>of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all.
> >>When
> >> > >>>the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held
> >>Sarah's
> >> > >>>frail, small hands in his own.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Now, Sarah, "he said authoritatively, "you have a job to do, and
> >>that
> >>is
> >> > >>>to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with
> >>your
> >> > >>>friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at Mayfair
> >>Mall
> >> > >>>this time next year!" He knew it was risky proclaiming that, to this
> >> > >>>little girl who had terminal cancer, but he "had" to. He had to
> >>give
> >>her
> >> > >>>the greatest gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the
> >>gift
> >> > >>>of HOPE.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Yes, Santa! "Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
> >> > >>>Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed
> >> > >>>between them and they wept unashamed. Sarah's mother and
> >>grandmother
> >> > >>>slipped out of the room quicklyand rushed to Santa's side to thank
> >>him.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly.
> >> > >>>"This is the least I could do." They nodded with understanding and
> >>hugged
> >> > >>>him.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>One year later, Santa Mark was again back on the set in Milwaukee
> >>for
> >>his
> >> > >>>six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went
> >>by
> >> > >>>and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap.
> >> > >>>"Hi, Santa! Remember me?!"
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling
> >>down
> >>at
> >> > >>>her.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>After all, the secret to being a "good" Santa is to always make each
> >> > >>>child feel as if they are the "only" child in the world at that
> >>moment.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>"You came to see me in the hospital last year!" Santa's jaw dropped.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little
> >>miracle
> >> > >>>and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely
> >> > >>>recognized her,for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were
> >>rosy
> >> > >>>-- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year
> >>before.
> >> > >>> He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the
> >>sidelines
> >> > >>>smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus. He had witnessed
> >> > >>>--and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about -- this
> >>miracle
> >> > >>>of hope.
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and
> >>well.
> >>He
> >> > >>>silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, "Thank you,
> >>Father.
> >> > >>>'Tis a very, Merry Christmas!
> >> > >>>
> >> > >>>If you believe in miracles you will pass this on...I did!
> >> > >>>