This is Amber's favorite Christmas story and loves to share it every year.
Back when Tucker was 5 years old and we had just about survived our first year with our first cancer treatments,Christmas came around. This was our first “cancer at Christmas time”.Life was hard. So many things had changed for us in year. I moved back home with my mom & step-dad -Denise and Reese- they opened their home & heart to us and were fully involved in helping me care for Tucker while I still worked full time and did full time chemo (its quite the balancing act). I remember that Christmas (2005) I was sad and not expecting a big Christmas, I just didn’t have the money, but mom & Reese were doing everything they could to make it a great Christmas for Tucker. Still I just wasn’t feeling the sprit of the season- yet. I picked up the Hearled Journal one day (Logan’s news paper)and read this thing they were doing, your kid could “write to Santa”and send it into the newspaper and they would publish some of the letters.
It was a good idea, Tucker was a true believer of Santa (remember he was 5) and he was so worried that Santa would think he lived at the hospital and he wanted to write him a letter to tell Santa exactly where he lived now so Santa didn’t get lost. I sat down with a paper and pen and told Tucker “I’ll help you write the letter, and we will send it off right away”…. And this is what came out of the most memorable Christmas I’ve ever had.
*ToSanta from Tucker age 5*
Dear Santa,
I have been very sick this year with cancer, but I have done everything the doctors told me and I only cried at all the shots, but that’s it. Wish you could see me, my hair grew back! I want you to know I live with my mommy at my grandparent’shouse and NOT the hospital. I will try not to cry at the shots. For Christmas Iwould like never to be sick and a slurpee machine (my favorite thing). I want Sharkboy and Lavagirl (my favorite movie). I want a computer and a printer and a desk.
Please bring Bruno a BIG bone, he is a good dog.
Tucker
I remember trying not to tear up as I was writing this letter- was serious stuff to ask Santa! And it was also just a testament to how a 5 year old brain works- I don’twant to be sick and can I get a computer? LOL…. Only a kidcould think like that. I found out later that he had asked Santa for a computer and such to give to me, man- I have a sweet thoughtful kid! I told Tuckert hat I know Santa doesn’t think crying at the shots is a bad thing and it wouldn’t put you on the “naughty list” because you do- but he was very serious about telling Santa he would try harder to be stronger.
Wow- right?
Well, I got the letter sent off to the “NorthPole” aka: The Herald Journal and I didn’t think much about it until the first edition of the Letters To Santa came out in the paper on December 22,2005. On the first page the first letter on the list, sure enough it was Tucker’s letter. I thought “oh, that’s sweet” and went on my way. The next day, afternoon sometime- there was a knock at the door, I believe my mom went to answer the door. I remember her walking over and opening the door and then shutting it- she turned around and said “Tucker, it’s for you.” So Tucker and I walked over to the door and opened it up and there were multiple huge beautifully wrapped presents on the door step with a letter on the top of the stack. So I took all the presents inside and sat Tucker down and we opened the letter, it read:
Dear Tucker (and Bruno)
I got your letter late and my sack was already filled. Since there was no room in it I brought these presents early. I hope you don’t mind. Enjoy them now,
Love Santa
P.S. Ihate getting shots too, the make me cry. Please don’t tell any one, it will be our little secret.
My jaw hung open in complete shock and surpriseas my little 5 year old was bouncing around and couldn’t contain his excitement-Santa got his letter! Santa was just at our DOOR! I said to him “open these presents, Santa’s orders!”. Sure enough in the big box was his Slurpee machine (they were the “hot” toy that year) and if that wasn’t enough, it looked like Santa had raided the nearest 7-11store because in other packages we had a huge stack of official slurpee cups,and straws and lids & napkins. At this point I was stunned… as my 5year old was ecstatic beyond anything I could imagine or anything I could properly describe to you in this post. The feeling in the room at that time was, breathtaking… and so hard to describe, it was wonderful.
After Tucker opened all his slurpee stuff there was still one package left. I calmed him down long enough to open thelast present and sure enough- it was a HUGE thing of BIG bones for Bruno. Bruno was my mom’s basset hound dog, who would never leave Tucker’s side and almost daily became Tucker’s “pillow” or would sit byTucker when he was throwing up, Bruno was the love of Tucker’s life and I believe helped Tucker in so many ways dealing with the chemo and what he was going through.
Christmas's come and go & you never really remember the stuff you get- it’s the profound moments that stay in your life. This story I think of every year when this time rolls around, this is the story I will never forget. I want to encourage youall to be that Santa to somebody- be that person who has such a profound impact on somebody’s life that they will never, ever forget that moment and that feeling that you gave to them & that you made possible. Santa may have givenTucker what he wanted, but he gave me something even more precious- he gave me this memory, and that is more precious then all the toys in the world.
Merry Christmas,
With love
Amber, Justin & Tucker
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| Tucker 5 & Bruno September 2005 |
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| Tucker 5 1/2 years old, December 2005 |
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