PIC: This Is Probably The Most Poignant Santa Visit You’ll Ever See

One of the most poignant visits to Santa has been made public this week, after a grieving father asked a Santa in his local mall to pose for a photo with his now deceased baby son.

According to Mashable, the Santa Claus at a mall in Athens, Georgia was being played by actor Caleb Ryan Sigmon, when he met a man who walked in with an especially heartbreaking request.
Posting about the encounter on his Facebook page, Sigmon wrote:

‘A man walked in today holding something in his arms. “I have a request,” he said, turning around this picture frame. He took a moment. “My son passed away, last year.” He choked up and couldn’t finish his sentence.

The entire photo set was silent. I said, “Absolutely.” Without anyone saying anything, he handed me the frame and I placed it on my knee. In the photo, I could see on the little boy’s armband that his first name was Hayden. I didn’t ask any questions, but I am guessing that this is his first photo with Santa.

The camera snap was the only sound I could hear through the entire mall. Normally, I hear all kinds of music and sounds, but it was absolutely silent. After a handful of clicks, we walked over to the screen and he pointed, saying, “That’s the one.”

The girl working the computer printed him a full photo package and he pulled out his wallet, saying that this was going to be his gift to his wife. We gave him the printed package, telling him that it was a gift and that we would be praying for his family, this Christmas. He grabbed my hand and pulled me in and hugged me, then turned around and left.

As he walked out, we all had tears in their eyes. I’m sharing this to remind us all that Christmastime is unbelievably hard for some families. Pray for the broken hearted. Smile at people. Just be kind. Love one another.’

Sigmon also posted a snap of himself holding a photo of a smiling baby wearing a hospital wristband: