Santa's full of ho-ho-ho but the truly joyous thing about this picture is the look of wonderment on the face of young Isobel Dawson.
Aged eight, she is visiting a grotto in Lapland for the treat of her life – after SIX Christmases spent in hospital.
Isobel’s two yuletides at home were wonderful – leaving mince pies for Santa and excitedly ripping open presents with sister Grace, 11.
The others were so much tougher – opening gifts and advent calendars while connected to a series of tubes.
Isobel was diagnosed with leukaemia when she was three and has spent years having gruelling treatment.
But now all of her Christmas wishes have come true, after she was whisked off on a magical trip to Lapland, complete with a visit to Santa’s grotto.
And Sunday Mirror readers can help give other children a wonderful memory too by backing our Christmas Appeal in aid of the Make-A-Wish UK charity – which helps dreams come true.
Isobel’s mum Louise, 44, says Lapland has kickstarted what they hope will be a festive season to remember.
She says: “Isobel has had the most incredible time. Meeting Santa was definitely her highlight.
“He had already received her letter so he read it back to her – she asked him for a Playmobil Pony Farm.
“She was so excited to meet him, it was really magical.
“And she loved doing her elf training. We played lots of games and sang with the elves, who were so friendly.
“She helped Santa dress up as a naughty elf in the messed-up post room, which was a lot of fun! The second most special thing was the husky ride – it was absolutely magical.
“The reindeer were beautiful. Isobel loves animals – we have a cockador dog named Winnie – so she was very excited. We also went out on snowmobiles, which was incredible. It’s like Isobel is getting all her Christmases back.
“For years, we have been desperate for her to have an amazing Christmas. Now finally we have.
“Thinking about it, the whole time in Lapland just seems totally bonkers, unreal – because it was so perfect.
“It has made her really excited for Christmas, in a way she hasn’t been before. I remember her saying she didn’t get excited about Christmas. She knew other children were, but she couldn’t feel the same because she used to spend so much time in hospital.
“We’d rush home in between visits to decorate the tree and make things special for her, but she never really got to enjoy it. So this is an amazing dream come true.”
Isobel’s struggle with leukaemia is ongoing and the family knows never to take anything for granted. But they hope she can be at home come December 25.
Louise says: “We’re just desperate for her to have a special Christmas. We always try to make it special for her in the hospital, with presents and tinsel and songs – but it’s just not the same.”
Isobel was originally meant to go to Lapland when she was five, but it was delayed by treatment and the pandemic.
Now it has happened – with Grace, Louise and dad James, 41, by her side – Isobel couldn’t be happier.
Louise says: “We are so grateful to Make-A-Wish, they have been so wonderful granting this for Isobel. Her main wish was to see Santa’s home. She’s still a huge believer, so it was amazing.”
Louise, from Epsom, Surrey, recalls the grim day doctors revealed Isobel had leukaemia – after a run of infections.
She says: “I remember sitting in one of those rooms off of A&E and waiting for hours, watching as the doctors kept looking back at us. I knew something was wrong. When they told us, it was completely devastating, it was awful.
“Thinking back to those first few days, she was taken from her sister and was in hospital from such a young age with people sticking needles into her and pumping her full of drugs. It’s hideous trying to explain that to a little girl.”
Isobel’s first treatment was at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital – followed swiftly by a blood transfusion at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton, Surrey. “It has been absolutely brutal for her,” Louise says.
“She had endless chemotherapy and injections but one of the most traumatic things was she had to have a port fitted to access a vein through to her heart.
“That was awful. She spent a lot of time not being able to see anyone.”
Throw in the Covid lockdowns and the trip to Lapland became even more significant – and very, very special.
Louise, who works in marketing, adds: “She was just so excited. This gives back the Christmases that she lost and that’s priceless for a child.
“Going to see Father Christmas and going on a sleigh ride was just awesome for her, completely magical.”
Isobel, sadly, is far from alone in facing up to illness. Across the country, there are more than 63,000 young people who are also critically ill. Many will be in hospital this Christmas.
But with your help, we can make their festive season far cheerier.
This year’s Mirror Christmas Appeal is raising funds for Make-A-Wish.
To make such wishes come true takes an army of volunteers, supporters and donors. That’s why every penny you donate could make a difference.
Granting a wish can give a huge psychological boost, even helping children on the road to recovery.
For others it creates a special memory which makes the treatment they need more bearable. It can also give a welcome boost for parents and carers.
Make-A-Wish chief executive Jason Suckley said: “These memories are particularly important when a parent doesn’t know how much time they have left to spend with their child.
“Every donation from Mirror readers will help us create those memories – bringing light and joy to critically ill children and their families during the darkest of times.”
