The smallest patients at Methodist Dallas Medical Center got a special surprise for the holidays. Santa Claus paid a visit to the babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. Nurses assigned to the unit arranged the visit to bring a bit of holiday cheer to the kids - and their parents.
"I don't think any parent would wish to spend the holidays in the NICU," said Jacobi Davis of Red Oak. Her twins, Grayson and Quinn, are there now. "But if you have to - the stockings, how everyone cares for the babies and Santa coming makes it special."
Staffers put up Christmas decorations and even made stockings for the 20 infants in the NICU. Many of the babies are small enough to fit into the stockings.
Davis appreciates the staff's extra work to make the hospital a cheerful place.
"The holidays are about spending it with your family," she said, "and I'm happy we got to do that today."
In addition to the Christmas stockings, the nursing staff is working on "ugly" Christmas sweaters made just for them. They should be delivered in the next few days.