Children in hospital speak to Santa at the North Pole

This holiday season, children too sick to leave their hospital rooms received an interactive visit from Old St. Nick.

Cincinnati Children's joined Cisco Systems and CBTS, a subsidiary of Cincinnati Bell, to bring Santa Claus to its patients using a video monitor and web-enabled camera.
"The children were able to call Santa at the North Pole and speak with him in real time," said Micah Dean, a Telehealth consultant at Cincinnati Children's. "He knows their names and has a little background information so Santa can live chat with each patient."

Dean also served as one of Santa's elves dressed in red and green gear from head to toe. He was joined by Sara Coe and Kelsey Loftus with Child Life.
"These are children who are here for a long period of time who have been told they have to be here over Christmas so it's a way for us to bring Santa to them without having to leave the hospital," said Coe.

Santa's elves also brought presents, some that were on the children's Christmas lists.
"It's just really an uplifting experience," said Loftus. "You can see children who may be having a bad day and we come in and they just light up. Seeing them smile, it makes it all worthwhile."

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center