Ill kids enjoy the ‘North Pole’ at Feld Entertainment Studios

“I did it!” shouted 5-year-old Emma after sliding down an slide full of snow on an inner tube at Feld Entertainment Studios on Friday for the annual Flight to the North Pole event organized by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Young Emma suffers from serious heart defects because her biological mother did drugs while she was pregnant. She’s had one surgery already and will require more.

Emma’s eyes lit up with glee as she whisked down the slide and her smile was ear to ear. They changed to wonder as she looked around the winter wonderland Feld and sheriff’s office staff and volunteers had created.

But nothing compared to the look on her face when Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived atop a massive monster truck. It isn’t his normal means of transportation. Even a reindeer or two hitched a ride.

Emma wasn’t alone in letting loose smiles, giggles and outright laughter.

Hundreds of other children facing serious medical challenges, played throughout the wonderland Feld created. Though most have never seen snow before in their lives, to a child they knew exactly what to do as a snow fight broke out on a pile of snow outside.

When — if not Christmas — is there a better opportunity for children such as these to forget, if for a day, the challenges that lay ahead.

“This makes us realize why we do this, why it’s so important,” said Sheriff Rick Wells. “They truly enjoy it so much. They look forward to it every year and I’m honored to have the opportunity to be a part of it. It truly makes a difference in their hearts, even if for one day they can forget all the struggles they are going through.”

For Emma, it was her second trip to the North Pole event. Debbie Strahs is her mother now. Strahs, who has a nursing background, had fostered children who require medical needs for years. In the past 15 years, she’s helped more than 100 children.

But Emma isn’t going anywhere.

“She came for foster care, but she’s staying. She’s being monitored closely, but she also can be a very typical, frustrating 5-year-old,” Strahs said with a smile. “She loves people. She’s very social and loves to be around everyone.”

This is the 34th year of the Flight to the North Pole. It was started in 1985 by a number of Eastern Airline flight attendants and has continued to grow every year. The sheriff’s office holds a few car shows a year to help pay for thousands of presents that are given to the children from Santa’s lap.

The rest is accomplished through volunteerism and a sheer love to see the faces of children struggling to survive life light up with joy. Friday’s event was the first time it was held at Feld Entertainment Studios. Wells praised them for wanting to be involved this year and for going above and beyond in making it a true North Pole for the children.

“This is something that can’t be put together in a couple of months,” Wells said. “It’s year-round planning and making sure everything is put together just right. (Feld) wanted to be a part of this and they made it more special than anyone could have imagined.”

For more information on this annual event and how to help, visit the Flight to the North Pole Facebook page.

This story was originally published December 13, 2019 at 2:33 PM.