Santa Receives Ultimate Gift
You might not be surprised to learn that Thornville, Ohio resident Mark Burgess dons a Santa suit each winter. Standing 6’2”, Burgess’ snow white beard and sweet demeanor make him the perfect jolly old elf!
“I stopped in Frankenmuth, Michigan once and left with a Santa Suit,” said Burgess, who has played Santa Claus for more than 20 years.
Mark Burgess
“Once you put that suit on, it’s like you’re a different person. The best thing is seeing the kids’ faces,” he said.
Burgess, 58, makes appearances as Kris Kringle in homes and at private events, mostly volunteering his time. He said visiting children with illnesses is the most touching part of his role as Santa. He once visited a little boy on what would be his last Christmas, an experience that still chokes Burgess up.
This cherished tradition has been compromised by Burgess’ health over the years.
In 2002, Burgess began feeling sluggish and went to visit his doctor. He learned he had diabetes and his kidneys were failing. Over the next two years, his condition worsened and Burgess was put on dialysis to stay alive while he was listed for a kidney transplant.
“Playing Santa was one of the first things that had to go,” said Burgess. “Dialysis really wore me out,” he said of the treatments he underwent three days a week for four hours at a time.
In November of 2007, Burgess received the ultimate gift. He had a kidney transplant, thanks to a complete stranger. “An altruistic living donor stepped up and I happened to be the best match,” said Burgess, “that is very rare!”
Grateful for his gift, Burgess had his energy back and was able to resume his role as Santa. His first visit post-transplant was to dialysis centers to visit others waiting for kidney transplants.
“They were all excited; we made goodie bags for everyone. It felt great,” said Burgess.
A few years later, Burgess’ diabetes continued to be a struggle. He fought to regulate his insulin, which was so unstable it sent him to the emergency room on multiple occasions. On Oct. 3, 2010, Burgess received a pancreas transplant from a deceased donor.
“I’m insulin-free,” he said. “I’m so grateful for the gifts my donors have given me. It feels like having three extra days a week, just having my own life back.”
“I’d like to meet my pancreas donor’s family. I’d like to tell them thank you, their gift gave me independence from insulin and it just changed my life,” said Burgess, who already met his living kidney donor.
Burgess missed out on being Santa last year, as he was recovering from his surgery. But this Christmas he plans to visit local dialysis centers as Saint Nick.
“I’m ready to get back in the saddle again. I think it will be good for dialysis patients to see me, knowing I’m on the other side of a transplant and doing well,” he said.
In addition to volunteering as Father Christmas, Burgess gives his time to promote organ and tissue donation.
“Not everyone has a living donor, like I had with my kidney transplant,” said Burgess. “My pancreas transplant was from a donor after death and it has completely changed my life. I hope I can inspire other people to register to be donors after death.”
To register to give the ultimate gift as an organ and tissue donor, click here.
One Comment »
Terri Louder
This “Santa” is special to us! Thanks, Mark for sharing your story and inspiring others to register as organ and tissue donors!