“To have a brief talk with Santa is a magical moment for the kids,” explained Patrick Regan, the enterprise account manager for healthcare at Cisco Systems, the company which provides the video technology and the Santa for the event. “It means the world. We help to heal them, physically and emotionally,” said Kirsten Getchell, a child life specialist at the hospital.

The event is helpful for the staff as well. “You get to see the kids smile when they haven’t smiled all day- and to see them as children, as people, not just as patients,” Getchell said. The experience reminds the staff what they are working for, and helps them from getting discouraged during their work.