Even during the busiest time of year, Santa always finds a way to make a sick child’s dream come true.
On November 1, Make-A-Wish and Macy’s joined forces for their 14th annual “Believe” program, aiming to raise $1 million to bring joy to children facing serious illnesses. The first wish granted in this year’s campaign went to 7-year-old Pastor, a brave little boy battling leukemia. It had been an incredibly challenging year for Pastor, filled with hospital visits and treatments, but when he learned that he would get to meet Santa, even for just one magical day, his worries melted away.
Pastor, who lives in Woodland, California, traveled with his aunt Teresa to Macy’s in downtown Sacramento for the special occasion. As soon as he walked into the store and spotted Santa waiting, tears came to the eyes of many who witnessed the moment.
“When Pastor first arrived, he mentioned he wasn’t sure he would actually get to meet Santa,” explained Sean Mullin, a board member at Make-A-Wish® Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada. “But when he turned the corner and saw Santa waiting, his face lit up. It was pure magic. He had a phenomenal experience.”
Teresa, Pastor’s devoted aunt, recalled the joy radiating from her nephew: “My favorite part was walking in together to meet Santa. The look in Pastor’s eyes was unforgettable. He was so happy that, for a little while, he forgot all about the hospital and everything he’s been through.”
After their initial meet-and-greet, Santa and Pastor hopped into a bright red Tesla and made their way to Golden 1 Center, which had been transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland just for them. The sheer delight on Pastor’s face as he stepped into the “North Pole” was a sight no one will forget.
The day only became more magical from there. Pastor enjoyed a lunch of cheeseburgers and cookies with Santa, fed a live reindeer, decorated a gingerbread house, had a snowball fight, and, of course, opened presents.
Teresa shared her gratitude: “We felt completely overwhelmed with joy. We had been looking forward to this day for so long—Pastor would always talk about it. Seeing him finally meet Santa made our hearts melt. After everything he’s been through with cancer treatments, it was wonderful to see him just be a kid again.”
Even Santa couldn’t hide his delight: “Spending the day with Pastor was absolutely wonderful. He was so excited to meet me at Macy’s, and then riding in a Tesla? He was over the moon! Every time a door opened, he yelled, ‘Open sesame!’—it was priceless.”
The “Believe” campaign continues through Christmas Eve, giving families plenty of time to participate. For every letter sent to Santa through Macy’s stores or online by December 24, Macy’s donates $1 to Make-A-Wish. Since the partnership began in 2003, Macy’s has donated $137 million and helped grant more than 16,200 wishes to children just like Pastor.
There’s truly no one more magical than Santa, and for Pastor, this extraordinary day offered a joyful escape from the hardships of illness—a moment of pure happiness that will be cherished forever.
