By O’Ryan Johnson
The Boston Herald
Copyright 2006 Boston Herald Inc.
Twenty-seven years ago, the stigma of AIDS was powerful enough to stop even Santa from his appointed rounds, so Christmas looked like it wouldn’t come to the children locked inside a pediatric unit at the old Boston City Hospital battling the deadly disease.
But that changed when a few EMTs cracked the door enough to let in the Christmas spirit - and gifts bought with their own money.
“This EMT took it upon himself to help as many as he could,” said EMS Superintendent Diane Cavaleri. “He used to dress up as Santa or as an elf and he’d play the guitar while the rest of us would sing.”
Since then, a bond as indestructible as fruitcake has formed between EMS and Boston Medical Center’s Children’s AIDS program. “Year to year you wouldn’t see the same kids, and knew they’d died,” Cavaleri said.
Two dozen EMTs and paramedics spent Tuesday night at the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association on Shetland Street using bandage shears to slice wrapping paper for the 500 gifts they will hand out next week.
Leftover presents are kept for situations EMTs and the cops encounter in the line of duty. “If they go into a house and see there’s no presents, they . . . give us a call,” Cavaleri said.