My journey to becoming Santa Claus began long before I ever wore the red suit.
When I was six years old, my life changed forever. On December 3rd, my family was in a terrible car accident. I was left paralyzed from the neck down, and my younger brother, Tony, tragically passed away. I spent the weeks leading up to Christmas in the hospital, unable to move and unsure of what my future would look like.
One day, the nurses arranged a surprise that I will never forget: a visit from Santa Claus. He had a beautiful suit, a deep laugh, a booming “Ho, Ho, Ho,” and, most importantly, he knew my name. He even brought me a gift. For those few moments, the fear and sadness of the hospital melted away, and I felt the magic of Christmas fill the room. That Santa became my inspiration. He was everything I wanted to be for others someday.
As Christmas drew near, I was allowed to go home, though doctors said I would remain in a wheelchair. Then, on Christmas morning, something miraculous happened: I stood up from my wheelchair and walked, wobbly, shaky, but walking toward the door as my family prepared to visit my grandparents. In the weeks that followed, therapy continued, but doctors couldn’t explain how I was walking when they had said I shouldn’t be. To me, it felt like the spirit of Christmas itself carried me forward.
As I grew older, Christmas remained a cornerstone of my life. When my son Henrik was born, I made it a tradition for our family to cut down a Christmas tree each year, take sleigh rides through the snow, and experience the magic of the season together. But I began to notice something: too often, the Santas we visited didn’t match the magic I remembered. Some wore fake beards, or even jeans and work gloves. The illusion was broken, and I couldn’t help but think about the children who deserved more, who deserved the real magic I had experienced in that hospital room so many years before.
That’s when I knew it was my turn. I began the journey to become a professional Santa Claus, not just to wear the red suit, but to honor the magic, joy, and hope that Santa brought to me when I needed it most.
Today, every time I step into the suit, I think of that little boy in the hospital bed, and the Santa who gave him a reason to smile. My mission is to share that same joy, wonder, and love with every child and family I meet, because you never know when one magical moment will change a life forever.