On Christmas morning, Santa – who bears an uncanny resemblance to medical resident Alex Wendling – is scheduled to make a special stop at the inpatient unit of Shriners Hospitals for Children — St. Louis.
The jolly old elf has found the temporary home of a 12-year-old girl from Guatemala named Lucy. He will come bearing gifts, created in his workshop thanks to the donations of area Shriners (members of Shriners International, the philanthropic organization that supports the Shriners Hospitals for Children health care system). Reports say they include some items from her favorite book and movie series, Harry Potter. “I like Hermione the best,” Lucy said of the female heroine. “She’s intelligent. Brave.”