TAMPA - Attention Quinton Johns' family: Don't read until Dec. 25.
Two days after an appendectomy, 12-year-old Quinton dragged an IV tube behind his gown as he combed tables inside St. Joseph's Children's Hospital stacked with pink nail polish, measuring tapes, ponytail holders and stuffed rhinoceroses.
The Tampa Charter School sixth-grader picked a wreath with a candle for his mom and a silk Asian print purse for his sister. Dad is getting tools and a flashlight.
Sounds like typical holiday shopping, except Quinton can't get to the mall. So Make-A-Wish Foundation volunteers brought 1,800 potential gifts to him and more than 100 other young patients Wednesday.
The fourth annual event sponsored by the foundation, the hospital and Preferred Home Mortgages gave every child in care that day the opportunity to knock out their gift list and to meet Santa - a k a Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Nick Nazaretian.
Normally Nazaretian, a Christmas-season baby born on Dec. 21, presides over domestic violence cases. Donning the famous red-and-white uniform and bushy beard is a much happier occasion - his chance to give back to a good cause, he said.
"In the hospital at Christmas time is one of the worst places to be," the jolly judge said. "This gives them something to look forward to."
Quinton's mom, Pam, said her son would go home later Wednesday. Then it's back to school Monday, with his gifts wrapped and ready to go beneath the Christmas tree.
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