Spreading Christmas cheer in the Cochrane community, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were at Cochrane Toyota Dec. 20 to help volunteers hand out more than 350 children's sleds.
Okotokians Tanis and Cody Mitchell along with their daughters Lukah, three, and Berlynn, five, were among the first families to receive a sled from Santa at Cochrane Toyota.
The sleds were made all the more special as Cochrane Toyota has been a big supporter of Lukah and her challenging health journey, according to Mitchell. Two years ago, Lukah became very sick and required a rare multiple organ transplant procedure when she was 18 months old. Lukah was born with a rare tumour that was discovered around her first birthday.
The tumour was originally removed in Calgary, but due to complications, Lukah lost the blood supply to all her major organs requiring her to be airlifted to Edmonton for treatment.
“Basically her whole abdominal cavity was transplanted,” Mitchell said.
At the time, Mitchell said, they were told Lukah had just 12 to 24 hours to live. But, she proved to be a tiny fighter and ended up surviving seven weeks on life support before receiving a transplant.
At the time, the family spent Christmas at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.
Lukah celebrated her two-year transplant surgery a few days prior to the drive-thru sleds with Santa event, according to Mitchell, and is now doing well.
“We’re super excited. Cochrane Toyota has been a huge part of Lukah’s journey – they rallied the community and bought presents for our family for Christmas," she said. “Two years later, she’s doing amazing.”
Lukah's inspiring story remains top of mind at Cochrane Toyota, and they were one of the initial nominations for the sled program. Mitchell added it was exciting to find out two years later Cochrane Toyota was still thinking of Lukah and her family.
Lukah and her sister were super excited to receive the sleds, Mitchell exclaimed, and could not wait for the chance to take it out on the hills in their hometown of Okotoks.
“We’re just really excited to spend Christmas together because we’ve had Christmases not together,” she said. “We’re excited to stay home, make yummy food and go sledding.”
The Mitchells were one of many families to receive sleds from Santa.
Cochrane Toyota owner Alex Baum said it was an amazing feeling to supply Christmas presents to families after what has been a difficult year for many due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Baum said Lukah’s story has always been close to the heart of those at Cochrane Toyota.
“That’s a kind of pain that hopefully none of us have to feel. But, this particular family, certainly, they have a miracle baby,” he said. “Here we are two years later and that preschool child that was a baby is going to get enjoy a sleigh. What a wonderful day.”
Nominees for the sled came from anywhere in Cochrane Toyota’s market area, which extends east of Cochrane to 12 Mile Coulee in Calgary, past Morley to Exshaw west of town, north to Sundre, and south to Millerville.
Baum described the sleds as a “particip-action” gift that children could use to get out on the hills and enjoy while making great memories. He said he hopes the sleds will help create a Christmas that everyone gets to enjoy in their own special way.
“Cochrane is doing what Cochrane does best – putting smiles on people’s faces and just reaffirming why we live here,” he said. “There’s single moms that are here today that this may be the only gift that their pre-school child gets.”
He added the sled pick-ups were made all the more special as Santa and chief elf Mayor Jeff Genung were on hand for the deliveries. He noted the drive-thru might have been the first time some families were able to see Santa this year and give the jolly elf a grin and a wave.
“Everybody deserves to smile at Christmas,” Baum said.
