ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – For families spending the holidays in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Providence Hospital, the season can feel far from festive. But this year, some special visitors are bringing joy and a sense of normalcy to these tiny fighters and their loved ones.
Scrubbing in with hand sanitizer before entering the room, Santa and Mrs. Claus had a special job: spreading Christmas cheer to the hospital’s tiniest patients.
Among them are twin boys, Lyons and Ronin Abbey, who were born on Thanksgiving Day, seven weeks before their Jan. 11 due date.
“It’s amazing,” Siray Abbey, the twins’ mother, said. “We took our girls to see Santa, and it was a little sad that we couldn’t take the boys. What a gift to have Santa and Mrs. Claus come visit us and bring a little Christmas normalcy to our lives.”
Even Santa couldn’t help but get emotional holding the twins.
“It almost brings tears,” he shared. “It’s almost impossible to describe the inner emotions and outer emotions.”
The boys’ sisters — Siren and Rayla, ages 3 and 1 — got to see their brothers through a window, and their father, Loren Abbey, expressed his gratitude for their growing family.
“As a father, it’s amazing to have two daughters, but it’s even more special to have two sons to go with it,” he said. “I feel very complete.”
The NICU staff added an extra layer of holiday cheer by gifting each baby a handmade quilt to keep them warm during Santa and Mrs. Claus’ visit.
“They’re all different and made by our volunteers,” Physical Therapist Ginny McGill said. “We use them to wrap every baby in so that every baby that gets held by Santa is kept safe.”
Registered nurses like Meghan Klatt said visits like this provide much-needed normalcy for families during a stressful time, giving them hope for the day they’ll all be reunited at home.
“Your baby will eventually go home with you, it just takes time,” Klatt said. “You’re the most important thing for them, and continue to be strong and support them as they grow and eventually thrive and go home with you.”
For the Abbey family, the visit brought comfort and joy as they look forward to welcoming their boys home, hopefully by Christmas.
“My heart’s full,” Siray said. “I’ll feel 100% complete once I have all my babies under one roof.”
Even in the toughest times, the magic of Christmas shines through, one tiny miracle at a time.
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