Posted on 12/26/2009 5:40:25 AM PST by Born Conservative
From time to time, an event occurs that makes people believe in Christmas miracles.
Ed and Lynn Silliman's miracle came a few weeks ago.
The Sheppton, Schuylkill County couple's 5-year-old daughter, Delaney, walked for the first time on her own after receiving a special gift from Santa Claus, according to her mom.
Delaney has developmental disabilities that make it hard for her to talk or walk more than a few steps by herself.
But like most kids her age, Delaney loves visiting with Santa.
Last year, Lynn took Delaney to Country Folk, a shop in Nescopeck where Santa was scheduled to greet children.
"Every September, Father Christmas comes to Country Folk and takes pictures with the kids and just talks to them a little," Lynn said. "Well, last year we took Delaney ... and this old-time Santa really took an interest in her. He was very nice and they hit it off."
"So this year we brought her back and it was the same Santa. We sat her on his lap and it was so touching because he remembered her from last year," Lynn continued. "It was so nice because he goes all over to different places as Santa and sees so many kids, yet still remembered her."
"After our photo, he knelt down next to her and had another one taken. Then he took off one of his white gloves, signed it as Santa Claus and gave it to her. He explained that she was just the third child he's ever done that for," Lynn said.
Lynn expected that would likely be the last contact her daughter would have with the special Santa. But a surprise came a short time later in the form of a package for the family with a return address of North Pole, USA.
"When we opened it (and) there was a custom-framed photo inside from when Santa had knelt down next to Delaney and some other stuff. He signed everything 'Yours, Santa' and had it all wrapped in special Santa wrapping paper," Lynn said. "It was all from this man who Delaney had touched, which showed me there are still good people around."
That same day, Lynn and her husband received a special Christmas gift of their own. When Delaney's parents took her to the Health and Wellness Center in Hazle Township, where she goes for therapy and to improve motor skills like walking, she took 10 steps on her own. Usually, she walks just a little bit, mostly with help.
After the therapy session that day, Lynn and Delaney stopped at the post office to collect their mail. Waiting there was the package from Santa, which contained one more special gift.
"Inside the package he had sent her was a wooden star that says 'Believe' on it," Lynn said.
The other items Delaney received from her special Santa - a Santa-themed snow globe, figurine, teddy bear, night light, bell, card and stocking - were much like the man who had sent them: each managed to put a smile on the little girl's face.
The framed photo is decked out with a gold star pattern and an inscription on the back that reads, "To my little sweetie, the gold stars with our pictures are from my long red coat. May they always shine brightly, just for you ... Your Loving Santa, December 25, 2009."
The Sillimans say they can't thank the man enough for his kind efforts that really have made an impact on their daughter during what, for them, is clearly the most wonderful time of the year.
Good news from home.
The power of faith and love on display.
Absolutely!
Dang! Gotta clean my monitor. It got all blurry there all of a sudden...
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AAAAAWWWWWWWWWWW
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