Grieving Dad Begs Santa for a Photo with Late Son to Gift His Heartbroken Wife for Christmas

Christmas is a magical time when every kid is excited to meet Santa Claus and sit on his lap, striking an adorable pose or two. However, it can be a challenging season for some families, including this one parent who showed up at Santa's station with only a photo.

Caleb Ryan Sigmon is a young man from North Carolina who loves dabbling in different arenas. In addition to being a teacher, theater artist and director, and magician, he indulges in a project every year that's extremely close to his heart.

Since 2009, he's been taking on the role of Santa Claus, showing up at malls where he meets many lovely parents and their adorably jubilant little ones. Putting on Father Christmas' cap every December brings him insurmountable joy and has become a rewarding experience.

From Santa's Archives

In December 2015, the N.C. man was six years into his delightful role when he had an unforgettable interaction with a parent that left a lasting impact on his mind and heart. The meeting touched Sigmon so profoundly that he posted it on Facebook under the title "Stories from the Big Chair."

Something tugged at the heartstrings of the mall Santa and his crew, and they gifted the complete photo package to the man.

A Meeting with a Grieving Parent

Like a true storyteller, Sigmon narrated the details so that one couldn't help but feel the depth his words carried. It was early December, and he was waiting for another family to show up with their children when he noticed a man holding something in his hand.

When he reached Santa's station, the man turned the object he was holding, and to Sigmon's surprise, it was a photo frame. "I have a request," said the man in a low tone as he held the frame upright. "My son passed away last year," he added, choking mid-sentence, his poignant grief weighing on his heart.

Everyone in the photo booth was silent as Sigmon gave the distraught parent a comforting nod and took the frame. With nothing but pin-drop silence in the air, St. Nick rested the photo frame on his lap and turned his head a little to look at the angel in the photo.

The Baby's First Photo with Santa

Upon closer inspection, Sigmon was able to catch the baby boy's first name from his wristband in the photo—Hayden. Without asking the grieving father questions, he could tell that it was little Hayden's first picture with Santa Claus, and Sigmon wanted it to be special.

The photographer clicked a few photos, and that was the only sound engulfing the area where Santa's station had been set up. Afterward, Sigmon said the father walked to the printing section and chose a photograph.

He handed in some money to buy the photo as a Christmas present for his wife. Something tugged at the heartstrings of the mall Santa and his crew, and they gifted the complete photo package to the man instead.

Santa's Words of Wisdom

Shortly afterward, the heartbroken father took Sigmon's hand and wrapped him in an emotional hug, crying his heart out. As he left, Santa Claus and his team erupted in tears, unable to explain what they had just experienced.

Sigmon concluded his heart-touching story by adding that while Christmas was a merry occasion, it was challenging to navigate for some people. He advised his readers to follow a few simple guidelines to fulfill the true spirit of the holiday season:

"Pray for the brokenhearted. Smile at people. Just be kind. Love one another."

His Reason for Sharing the Story

Although he had received an array of unusual requests from families and youngsters each year, Sigmon said his emotional exchange with Hayden's dad came out of the blue and would forever remain etched in his memory. He added:

"I felt so convicted to share the story. To remind my friends, and myself, that Christmastime is unbelievably hard for some families."

To Santa's surprise, his Facebook post became an instant viral sensation, picking up thousands of views, reactions, shares, and comments. Sigmon, 22, was flabbergasted when Hayden's dad contacted him on Facebook and thanked him for sharing his beloved boy's story.

Gone Too Soon

But that wasn't all. After the heartwarming photo of Santa Claus holding the photo frame made rounds on social media, the story behind it was shared by various media outlets. Little Things reported that baby Hayden died in 2014 from Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at only six months old.

Hayden's parents Kyle and Sasha Daniel said they were grateful to Sigmon for his comforting and sweet gesture for them and hoped that their little boy's story would inspire others to be kind and loving.

Comments from Readers

Many readers from all over the world were impacted by the poignant story and shared messages of support and encouragement for the grieving parents while also commending Santa's gesture:

"Wow what a story! Holidays can definitely be hard when [you're] missing a loved one!"

— (@JSMwright) December 10, 2015

"Thank you for sharing, Caleb! Truly heart warming."

— (@oneinagillian) December 10, 2015

"This is beautiful. Thank you for posting your stories from the chair! Prayers for you and for Hayden's family."

— (@caroline.kapo) December 10, 2015

"How precious. Caleb, God not only puts you in places to minister to others, but you do a good job of seeing the bigger picture. That's ministry, not just a job. And reading your posts lately has been like Humans of New York, Santa style. We would all be better off to listen, pay attention, and love people this way (sic)."

— (@cj.torrence.9) December 10, 2015

"You are the perfect Santa! Merry Christmas and thanks for reminding us how hard the holidays can be for others."

— (@julie.teravest) December 10, 2015

In a world where we can be anything, choosing kindness and love can make a significant difference in people's lives. If this story touched your heart, please share your feedback on Facebook.

Click here to read another story about a two-year-old boy with a terminal illness who died after seeing Santa for the last time.