Barack Obama dons Santa hat, brings gifts to young hospital patients

Former President of USA Barack Obama, delighted patients and staff after showing up at a Washington DC hospital wearing a Santa hat and carrying a bulging sack of gifts on Wednesday.

A Facebook post of Children’s National said, “Who said the Grinch stole Christmas? Our patients and their families received a huge holiday surprise when Barack Obama warmed our hallways with a huge bag of gifts for our patients! Thank you so much for visiting!”

View this post on Instagram

President Bear ?

A post shared by @ bearresident on Dec 19, 2018 at 4:41pm PST

Notably, a Video showed that the US’ 44th president visiting children in their rooms and receiving a loud ovation in a hospital hallway where a delighted bunch of workers and patients took photos and sang, ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas’.

While addressing the crowd former president Barack Obama said, “I just want a chance to say ‘thank you’ to all of you guys. I’ve had a chance to talk to some of the wonderful kids and their families, at a time that’s obviously tough for folks. As the dad of two girls, I can only imagine in that situation, you know, to have nurses, staff and doctors and people who are caring for them, and looking after them, and listening to them and just there for them, and holding their hand, that’s the most important thing there is,” the 57-year-old former president said. “What a great reminder of what the holiday spirit is supposed to be all about.”

According to a report, Obama had spent almost an hour and a half visiting with the paediatric patients, giving them toy cars, puzzles and scented nail polish.

Later, he took to his twitter handle and thanked Children’s National for humouring him as their stand-in Santa.

Thank you @BarackObama for making our patients’ day so much brighter. Your surprise warmed our hallways and put smiles on everyone’s faces! Our patients loved your company…and your gifts! https://t.co/bswxSrA4sQ ❤️ #HolidaysAtChildrens #ObamaAndKids pic.twitter.com/qii53UbSRS

— Children's National ? (@childrenshealth) December 19, 2018

Notably, the visit comes a week after First Lady Melania Trump made the traditional visit to the hospital, during which she read a Christmas story, surprised patients and thanked the staff.

Also read: Time magazine names 3 Indian-origin students among the 25 most influential teens of 2018