For Aiden Thomas

Shortcake went on a special event today. (She also worked Gatekeeper and at the Map - stumped on the Republic of Georgia and Djibouti briefly.) The event was assisting Santa as he visited kids in the pediatric section and pediatric ICU in NYU's hospital. Santa delivered gifts and said hello to the kids. Because of the risk of infection, in some rooms Santa could only stand in the doorway and wave, but there were some kids he could high five and go in and talk to. Armani was the first boy we saw. He had said just the day before that he didn't believe in Santa (at 6 years old!), but the appearance of Santa in the hospital may have changed his mind. Armani got some cool gifts, but the best was definitely the collection of Where's Waldo? books.

There was little boy, Frankie, in the ICU who had a reindeer mask in front of his face when Santa entered the room. He was the most excited boy we saw, and he ripped into his gifts. Another boy, Dylan, was probably a year old, and he just looked at Santa with awe on his face.

There were a lot of babies that Santa visited, most sleeping. They got presents too, and Santa took pictures with them as they slept. He wasn't able to hold them, so he stood by their bed. As Santa visited the babies, Shortcake thought about her friends who had a baby just over 6 years ago. Aiden Thomas lived a short life and spent most of it in the infant special care unit. Aiden didn't get to see Christmas, and Santa didn't get to visit him. Aiden has a little brother, now 2 1/2 years old, who has definitely seen Santa. But standing in the pediatric ICU reminded Shortcake of Aiden. She just wants to say that Aiden is not forgotten, by the elves or Santa.