Santa Claus made a pre-Christmas visit to Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, bringing holiday cheer to young patients and their families. The annual event, which has become a tradition at the hospital, featured Santa—described as a close friend of David Marshall, JD, DNP, RN, who is Cedars-Sinai’s senior vice president and chief nursing executive—visiting children at their bedsides with nurses and other healthcare staff.
Marshall commented on the significance of the visit: “This visit is something I look forward to every year,” he said. “I even found Santa a new pair of boots for the occasion, because the smallest details can spark the biggest smiles. It’s a reminder that compassion and connection are just as important as the care we provide—especially during the holidays—and it’s worth every jingle.”
During Santa’s rounds in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), parents received ornaments imprinted with their baby’s footprints as keepsakes marking their child’s first holiday season. Families in both Guerin Children’s and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit received gingerbread house-making kits, diaper-changing mats, and stuffed animals donated by Owie BowWowie and Friends Foundation.
Yan Wang, whose son Wayne was born four days before Santa’s visit, described its impact: “Our family hasn’t been able to join us yet, since they are traveling from China, so this visit meant a lot to us,” Wang said. “Being able to take Wayne’s first photo with Santa and celebrate together as a new family made this moment feel even more special.”
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is located in Los Angeles and was founded in 1902. The current president is Thomas M. Priselac. The hospital includes pediatric services among its offerings and serves as a training hospital; according to its 2022 annual report, more than 50,000 patients were admitted for treatment during that year.
More information about caring for newborns can be found on the Cedars-Sinai Blog.
