Santa Claus to visit Scottsdale Healthcare Shea

Santa visit to give children hope and something to ho, ho, ho about with family

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Santa Claus and three of his elves will bring teddy bears for young patients at Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center from 10 a.m.-noon Monday, Dec. 14. More than 125 “I am Loved” teddy bears are being donated by the Santa’s Gift Foundation.

Santa will make his rounds visiting and taking a photo with the tiniest bundles of joy in the neonatal unit (where babies can weigh as little as 400 grams — about the size of a can of soda), in the pediatric unit, pediatric ER and Kidz Klinic.

“We are grateful Santa Claus is taking time out of his busy schedule to visit our hospital,” said Shannon Hickson, child life coordinator, Scottsdale Healthcare. “The smiles when the babies and children see Santa and his elves will be priceless. This will definitely give them something to look forward to during their stay.”

Illinois-based Santa’s Gift Foundation was started as a way to provide a little holiday hope to hospitalized children 15 years ago. A formal charity was formed four years ago and continues to grow every year. The Foundation, with Santa’s help, will deliver approximately 4500 bears to 26 hospitals in eight states over this holiday season.

Scottsdale Healthcare is the only hospital being visited by Santa’s Gift in Arizona this year.

Scottsdale Healthcare Shea is located at 9003 E. Shea Blvd. (Shea Blvd. and the 101). Santa will be on the Pediatric Unit 4D (fourth floor).

Scottsdale Healthcare (www.shc.org) is the not-for-profit parent organization of Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Shea Medical Center, Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center, Scottsdale Clinical Research Institute, TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare, Scottsdale Healthcare Home Health Services, Scottsdale Healthcare Community Health Services, NOAH Clinics and Scottsdale Healthcare Foundation. Scottsdale Healthcare ER wait times are updated every three minutes at www.fastERtimes.org.

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