Santa makes special stop to visit tiny patients

UCHealth PVH Santa 122225_0389

Fort Collins, Colo. (Dec. 23, 2025) – Santa Claus made a very special stop this week to visit some of the tiniest patients at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. These little ones aren’t quite ready to leave the hospital, so Santa brought the holiday cheer to them. 

With Mrs. Claus at his side, Santa spent Monday morning spreading joy and posing for photos with babies in PVH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Babies cared for in this unit are often born prematurely – sometimes as early as 27 weeks gestation – or face challenges such as respiratory issues, infections, low blood sugar, or jaundice. They often need extra help breathing, regulating their temperature and feeding. 

This year, Santa visited 24 babies in the unit, including one named Holly, another named Nikolas and two sets of twins. 

Also known as Santa Moose, Bill Shattuck has been donning a red suit and white beard since the 1980s. For the past several years, his holiday stops have included UCHealth hospitals throughout northern Colorado. His visits help families celebrate their babies’ first Christmas even when they can’t be home.