For the 20th consecutive year, Santa makes special delivery to Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital

Santa Claus made a pre-Christmas stop at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital Friday, Dec. 13 to deliver gifts to nearly 50 patients, an annual tradition for the last two decades.

Arriving by police escort, Santa spent the day at Ranken Jordan and delivered a present to each patient based on each individual's wish list. Gifts ranged from music players and sensory toys to gift cards and driving toys. 

Santa’s early visit was made possible by the Maryland Heights Police Department and the Maryland Heights Fire Protection District. The two organizations have been coming together to host and raise money for the event every year since 2004, when Ranken Jordan moved to its current location on Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights. 

The Maryland Heights Police Department and the Maryland Heights Fire Department raised money and worked with other local organizations to ensure all patients receive a gift.

“One of our goals at Ranken Jordan is to ensure childhood doesn’t have to wait until a patient is discharged,” said Shawn Dryden, Chief Executive Officer at Ranken Jordan. “Going to see Santa is such a special tradition for children, but the majority of our patients have complex medical conditions so they can’t visit Santa like other kids. That’s why we bring Santa to our patients–we want them to experience the same Christmas magic other kids can. It’s an example of how we carry out our unique care model, Care Beyond the Bedside, which focuses on encouraging patients to get out of their hospital beds, engage with others, and heal through play.”

Dryden added that the hospital could not do the event without the help of the local community.

“We would like to thank the Maryland Heights Police Department, the Maryland Heights Fire Department, and all the other local businesses and organizations for supporting Santa’s visit,” Dryden said. “Everyone at Ranken Jordan calls it ‘the best day of the year’ and we are so grateful for the incredible generosity of our community.”

Other local organizations that donated gifts and funds to help the young patients at Ranken Jordan and their families celebrate this holiday season include: SLU Wildwood Student Nurse Association, SWIC Respiratory Students, Lafayette Hosa, MO Proud Patriots, Toys for Tots, Fire Truck of Toys and Kids Helping Kids.

Ranken Jordan is a pediatric bridge hospital that cares for kids from birth to 21 who are well enough to leave a traditional hospital but need additional support before transitioning home. The only hospital of its kind in Missouri and one of only a select few in the country, Ranken Jordan specializes in caring for children and their families with the most complex conditions, illnesses and injuries, bridging the gap between hospital and home. The 60-bed hospital uses an innovative care model, Care Beyond the Bedside, which gets children out of their hospital rooms, activating the healing power of play. Located in the heart of the Midwest, Ranken Jordan serves patients from across the region at its state-of-the-art facility.

For more information about Ranken Jordan or to learn how to support the hospital this holiday season, please visit rankenjordan.org.

Media Contact:
Serena Mounts 
Leigh Walters Communications
(314) 374-2334
serenam@lwcstrategies.com