A family's tradition: Bringing Christmas to a children's hospital | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

A family's tradition: Bringing Christmas to a children's hospital

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In a borrowed van, packed with presents and decorated with antlers and a Rudolph red nose the Michie family from Apple Valley carry on their family tradition. 

“Being around these hospitals definitely gives me more of a positive turn on life,” Jarrett Michie said. 

Six years ago, Michie was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis when he was 10 years old. He still goes to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital once a month for pain treatment that lasts several hours. 

“Four years ago he had an infusion on Halloween, Thanksgiving eve and Christmas Eve,” Kim Michie, Jarrett’s mom said. 

Michie decided he wanted to bring presents to fellow patients who aren’t—in his words—as lucky as he is to leave the hospital over the holidays. Year after year with the help of his twin brother and generous donors, Michie adds to the hospital’s secret stash of presents that magically appear in kids’ rooms on Christmas morning. 

“Being around the hospital during Christmas, it is a surreal thing because you realize that kids are going through something worse and they are staying here,” Michie said. “Patients stay throughout Christmas and I’m here once a month. It’s definitely a lot easier than what some people go through.” 

The Michies also sponsor a movie night every few months. On Thursday, the Maskill family from Michigan was appreciative of the break from medical monotony. The family was halfway through a 100-day wait to see if their son Matt’s bone marrow transplant is successful. 

“So what, are you going to sit in the house day, after day, after day,” Dennis Maskill, Matt’s grandfather said. “For Matt, his immune system is low, so this gives us a chance to do something different.” 

“We’ve had more fun in this hospital than you’d ever dream of,” Tracy Maskill, Matt’s grandmother said. 

For the Michies, those smiles are the best gift of all. 

“They’ve certainly taught me a lot about giving back,” Kim Michie said.