KUALA LUMPUR: The paediatric ward at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) came alive with smiles and laughter as three jolly Santa Claus walked with toy-filled sacks for the young patients here today.
Four-year-old K. Harrshan was jumping with joy on his hospital bed when he caught a glimpse of Santa Claus passing by his ward.
He simply could not take his eyes off the man in red with his fluffy white beard. Harrshan got even more excited when he saw all the presents that the Santas have brought with them.
“Santa is here!” the child shouted gleefully.
When one of the Santa Claus approached him, Harrshan hugged and kissed the round-bellied man with much excitement.
“I am so happy to see the Santa,” he said.
Another patient, S. Thanushini, 8, who has been admitted for the past one week due for constipation, was grinning from ear to ear when Santa came up to her with her Christmas presents.
“Seeing the man himself makes me happy. At least I can feel some Christmas joy in this hospital ward,” she said.
All Tan Shi Khai, a cystic fibrosis patient, wanted to do was to take a picture with Santa.
“I want to show it to my family and friends when they come and visit me later,” he said.
However, for one patient in the oncologist ward, it was a different case. Leukaemia patient, 15-year-old Chloe Yap Cyn Yee, said she want a memorable time with her loved ones this Christmas.
“It was really great to meet Santa but that is not what I want. If only I could spend quality time with my family this Christmas. It will definitely be great,” she said.
The initiative was headed by The Giving Bank, together with JCY Models Sdn Bhd.