Elgin firefighter - ahem, Santa - surprises kids at Advocate Sherman

Santa arrived at Advocate Sherman Hospital on Christmas Day - but he didn't bring a sleigh or any reindeer, and he didn't enter by chimney.

Instead, Santa - actually John Botkin, the father of Elgin firefighter/paramedic Nate Botkin - was hoisted, along with Elgin Fire Department engineer Shay Brill, in the bucket of a tower ladder truck to a window on the sixth floor of the Elgin hospital.

Awaiting Santa at the window were two young hospital patients, Joel Ramirez Jr., 4, of Elgin and Katelyn Cole, 9, of South Elgin.

Both children were recovering from appendectomies and were expected to leave the hospital in time to celebrate Christmas at home with their families. But not before they received their surprise at the window, followed by a visit from Santa (who came in via the door on the ground floor), accompanied by hugs from firefighters and a sack of toys, including an American Girl doll for Katelyn and a Spider-Man figure for Joel.

It is a tradition that Assistant Fire Chief Tim Maroder began four years ago when he was captain at Station 3, after a visit to the pediatric ward one November made some firefighters wonder what it would be like for a child to have to spend Christmas Day in the hospital.

He said he talked with some of the other crews and asked if they would be interested.

"It went really well the first year, so we decided to keep doing it, and now the hospital is calling us every year, starting in early November, 'Hey, are you guys going to be up here for Christmas?'" Maroder said.

For the firefighters, as well as the children, there is always an element of surprise.

"The thing that we never know until Christmas morning is how many kids, or if there are even going to be any kids," said Maroder.

"We always say if we don't do this, it's a good thing. That means there are no kids here on Christmas Day," he said.

For the children, it is always a thrill.

"They love it. They anticipate a surprise, so I think that's a good thing," said Gaby Martinez, an RN who normally works Christmas.

Elgin firefighter Lt. Matt Kenneally, who also brought a book to add to the pediatric ward's collection, recalled that last year there were about nine young patients. A probationary fighter had the opportunity to dress up as Santa.

"The parents were the ones that really were kind of jazzed by it," Kenneally said. "No one wants to be in the hospital this time of year. How great that they only have two kids that could be here for Christmas."

"It's wonderful," said Joel's father, Joel Ramirez Sr.

Once Katelyn gets back home, she will have plenty of presents to unwrap, said her father, Brian Cole.

"It was really cool," Katelyn said.

Meanwhile, it didn't take a lot of arm-twisting to get John Botkin to don Santa garb. His son Nate said it is something his dad, who lives in Bolingbrook, has wanted to do for years.

"Before he could finish his question, I said yes," John Botkin said.

"It was fantastic going up in the ladder," he said.