To Santa's Nurses

 

"To Santa’s Nurses"

May 12th.

On the North Pole calendar, this date shines even brighter than Christmas lights. It’s Nurses Day. And as a good old Santa on medical leave—though not yet fully retired (yes, I deserve a break too!)—I couldn’t let this day go unnoticed, or rather, un-sweetened like cotton candy… much like the hair of many nurses who’ve rescued me from sleigh crashes, heart attacks, surgeries, cancer treatments, and a long list of other ailments I’m followed for.

Hohohohoho… poor old man… I’ve heard it in the ICU:

"You again?" or "Remember me? I looked after you in ward such-and-such..."

So many comments, it could fill a very, very long book.

But today, I want to talk about a few very special people. They don’t wear red hats, but they have giant hearts. They don’t hand out gifts, but they offer hope, dress wounds, and give gentle (and sometimes not-so-gentle) scoldings. Their official title? Nurse. But to me, they have a first and last name: eternal gratitude.

Over the years, while I was busy with gift lists, disobedient reindeer, and letters arriving in every language—yes, even Mandarin—someone was taking care of me. At every pain, every little crisis, there they were—with their steady gaze, nearly magical patience, and that rare blend of skill and affection, like giving love in injection form (sometimes literally).

I’ve never understood how they do it. They work nights, push through dawns, put up with grumpy old folks (me included), and still find the strength to smile and ask, “Feeling any better, Mr. Abilio?”

Just hearing it already made me feel better.

Today, on their day (yes, the guys too!), I put on my finest red outfit—even if it’s just to write this thank you.

Dear nurse, thank you for caring for me, even when I grumbled more than a flu-stricken Rudolph. Thank you for not giving up on me, even when I tried to escape the scale. Thank you for seeing the human behind the Santa belly.

May your day be filled with what you give the world every single day: compassion, strength, and a love that no prescription can measure.

And if someday exhaustion hits, remember: even Santa needs help to deliver the presents. And you, with your white coat and generous soul, have been delivering invisible gifts every day—life, hope, and care.

Happy Nurses Day, my dear nurses.

You are my eternal gift.

With gratitude and a heartfelt ho-ho-ho,

Santa Claus Abilio Machado