Medic`s Christmas Miracle

I want to share a wonderful Christmas story that touched my life. Last year I was representing American Medical Response at Toys for Tots, a charity fundraiser that collects donated toys for needy children in our community. Over the course of three weekends, we, along with the U.S. Marine Corp reservists, helped collect more than 5,000 toys for needy families.

At one of the collection events, a middle-aged man walked a brand new bicycle to us and said he wanted to make a donation. It was a very nice bicycle and I was touched by his generosity. I could tell there was something else on his mind, so I asked him if everything was OK. He told me he lost his daughter three years ago and has made it a point to donate a girl’s gift every year since then. I assured him it would be the best gift a little girl could receive.

When the three weekend events were over, we gathered all the toys in a fleet of ambulances and took them to the central collection area, the Catholic Mission in Moreno Valley. When we dropped off the toys, they appeared to be shorthanded, so I asked the staff if they needed any help, offering to be "Santa" to help hand out toys.

The next morning I arrived in my Santa suit ready to be jolly. My first visit would be with a very special little girl. She had a heart transplant two years ago; her family is very poor, and she just received news she may need further surgeries because the transplant was not doing well. The Charity coordinator told me they were able to fulfill her entire wish list, but she wanted to visit Santa. She sat there being very sad with no smile, no Christmas spirit, the weight of the world on her shoulders. I wanted to cheer-up that little girl, and I knew there were more than 5,000 toys in the warehouse next door. I asked her if there were one more present that would make her Christmas special. She asked Santa, in a very quiet voice, for a bike. She had lost her favorite bicycle when the bank foreclosed the family’s house. She told me her father gave her the bicycle, and they used to ride up and down the street, but he passed away three years ago, and she missed him very much. The bicycle held special meaning to her.

I pretended to call my elves at the North Pole and placed an order for a bicycle. I then asked her to wait for me as went to go get it. I went to the warehouse where all the bicycles were kept and, to my shock, all the bicycles were already shipped to their specific locations. In my panic, I decided to go out and buy a bicycle. Then I noticed a bicycle tire that was covered up in the corner behind a big pile of stuffed animals and must have been overlooked. Upon inspection, I found the tire belonged to a GIRLS bicycle! I dug out the bicycle and realized, with amazement, it was the same bicycle that the man had donated a few weeks ago. I brought the bicycle around and rolled it down the hall and, as her eyes caught a glimpse of what I was bringing, she jumped up and ran full speed right into me, her arms wide-open in a huge embrace. Truth be told she nearly knocked me over. She was jumping up and down with excitement, all the while yelling, "My bike, my bike, that's my bike!" I could not hold back the tears. Her mother confirmed the bicycle that we collected and presented to her was indeed the same bicycle that she used to ride with her father. It was the same make, model and color of the bicycle that was taken away. The same bicycle that held so much meaning; the same bicycle she shared with her father. She laughed and sang Christmas songs with us then sat with Santa for a long time and helped hand out presents to other needy families. She became my little elf for that day. Her mother sobbed true tears of joy at seeing her daughter laugh and sing when she hadn't laughed or smiled in many months. It was the happiest she had been in a very long time. I adjusted the bike to fit her height, so it was ready to ride. We also found her a helmet.

I told the little girl her father sent the bike from heaven, and he loved her and missed her.

I was proud to represent AMR that day, and to be a paramedic. The things we do in our community do matter; we can make a difference. I was part of a true Christmas Miracle. That Christmas miracle was the best gift I have ever received and to this day it still brings me joy and hope, I know it always will.

I can say without a doubt, give and you will receive. You may receive a miracle.