By Laura Kate Zaichkin, Herald staff writer
RICHLAND -- Santa gently touched 7-day-old Matthew's tiny head Tuesday as he was rocked by his father, Benjamin Remington, in Kadlec Medical Center's pediatric unit.
"Merry Christmas," Santa, aka Donald Schab, told the premature baby.
"These people traveled quite a distance to get here," Remington, of Milton-Freewater, told little Matthew and his twin brother, Dilon.
Children asked the Benton City Santa and Mrs. Claus -- Pasco's Lori Moffett -- for video games, clothes and other gifts they wanted to see under their trees this holiday.
But Schab, who has played Santa Claus in Sunnyside's Lighted Farm Implement Parade for the last five years, also has a Christmas wish this year: To get healthy.
The 58-year-old was diagnosed in February with a cancer that affected the outside lining of his intestines. After undergoing surgery in Omaha, Neb., Schab began chemotherapy every other week at Kadlec in May.
"Don't forget to leave Santa some cookies so we can get some weight put back on him," Moffett reminded children, referring to Schab's nearly 50-pound weight loss since his diagnosis.
Though he had to cinch his belt this year, Schab was as jolly as any Santa on Tuesday while surprising children and the oncology nurses who have treated him for nearly seven months.
"He's got a great attitude," said his wife, Cindy. "He's tackling it with grace. He could really be the poster boy for little kids having to go through chemo -- seeing Santa go through chemo."
Oncology nurses Nancy Oten and Connie Achord didn't recognize Schab as anyone but Santa at first, but broke into smiles when they approached him.
"(The best part was) that he's feeling good enough this season to dress up," Oten said.
Schab still was in his Santa suit as Achord hooked him up for his first dose of chemo for the week, but still had a smile on his face.
"Ho, ho, ho," he bellowed, giving a thumbs up.
