THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412160228
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY PHYLLIS SPEIDELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
Christopher Land's eyes reflected the magic of Santa as the 12-year-old leaned forward in his wheelchair, drawn to the hearty laugh of the big man in the red suit.
Santa Claus started Christmas a little early for Christopher and more than 60 other Hampton Roads children who are part of the Edmarc Hospice for Children on Crawford Parkway.
Last Sunday, a dozen Santa teams, led by Edmarc staffers, fanned out across Hampton Roads, bringing choirs of carolers, Santa Claus, and gifts to the homes of children who are not able to get out to see Santa.
Edmarc Hospice for Children provides support and services to families with children who are terminally ill or those who are at risk of dying.
Christopher, a cerebral palsy patient with several other life threatening conditions, is legally blind. ``They tell us he can only see shadows and outlines, but I am sure he saw Santa,'' Debbie Land, his mother, said.
This was the 10th year that Edmarc has led Santa visits to its client families. Gifts are donated by 50 corporate and private sponsors and carolers and Santas are volunteers from the community.
``This was the most generous outpouring of community spirit I have ever experienced,'' said Pam Gallagher, project chairman.
Santa's visit with his Edmarc entourage has become a cherished tradition at the Land family's home in the Brentwood section of Chesapeake. ``They have been coming for three or four years and we all look forward to it,'' Debbie Land said. ``It starts our holiday.''
From the Lands' home, Santa led his carolers on a short ride to the Brainard home in Cradock.
Santa had a pile of gifts for 11-year-old Sean Brainard, as well as for his parents, Pamela and William, and his brothers Larry, 16, and Billy, 18.
Although Sean, a fifth-grader at Brighton Elementary School, has had cystic fibrosis since birth, he doesn't let his medical problems slow him down. ``He is limited on some things, but he does a lot of things he is not supposed to be able to do,'' Pamela Brainard said.
Sean happily ripped into his gifts with an eagerness that had been building over weeks of waiting for Santa's visit.
``We all enjoy this, but Sean gets the biggest kick out of it,'' Pamela Brainard said. ``We all like it because you don't usually have people come in just to wish you a Merry Christmas anymore.''
``The volunteers get something out of this as well,'' Gallager explained. ``It is a win-win situation for everyone.''
Volunteer caroler Rick Cease agreed. Cease, along with a van full of carolers, came from Colonial Heights Church of Christ in Norfolk to accompany the Portsmouth Santa team. This was Cease's fifth year on a Santa team. ``This may be just an afternoon to us,'' he said, ``But it is pretty easy to see this means a lot to these kids.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY KNAPP
Brenda Hudson, left, and Josigh Difernando, 10, help Santa (Terry
Comstock) carry goodies for a home visit sponsored by Edmarc Hospice
for Children. More than 60 children received visits.
by CNB