I’ve got to hand it to Santa — he always seems to arrive exactly when he’s needed most.
Take the story of 5-year-old Maverick Michaelis from Kimberly, Alabama, just north of Birmingham. Maverick is fighting rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer of the soft tissues. Doctors successfully removed a tumor from his stomach, but the disease has spread to his lungs, placing him in the middle of a long and difficult battle.
A few days ago, it seems Maverick’s elf, Spencer, got an urgent message to Santa — and word traveled fast.
With help from the Kimberly and Warrior Fire Departments, Santa and Mrs. Claus made a surprise visit to Maverick’s home. Dustin Schollian of ’Tis The Season Lighting rushed over to work his magic, lighting up the house just in time. Santa and Mrs. Claus had been nearby at Warrior River Coffee when the call came, and without hesitation, they hurried to see Maverick.
The moment Santa arrived, Maverick’s face lit up with pure joy.
Eyes sparkling, heart racing, Maverick told Santa exactly what he wanted for Christmas. For a little while, the hospital visits, treatments, and worries faded away — replaced by laughter, wonder, and a memory he will carry forever.
On Monday, Maverick will return to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, where he will spend the next 10 months continuing a demanding 42-week chemotherapy treatment plan. The road ahead is long, but moments like this remind everyone why hope matters.
Santa kept his promise, delivering an Elf LEGO set and a handful of Army men — small gifts that meant everything to a little boy facing something far bigger than himself.
Maverick may be fighting cancer, but he’s also surrounded by kindness, love, and a community that showed up when it mattered most.
Please keep Maverick, his parents Brandon and Taylor, his sibling Callaway, their family dog Denny, and Elf Spencer in your thoughts and prayers.
Because sometimes, the greatest gift Santa brings isn’t found under the tree — it’s hope. 🎄❤️
