SHOREWOOD – It’s Santa!

It’s Santa!

The children’s squeals filled the air as three trucks from the Troy Fire Protection District turned down the street where Jeff Otte, a single father, and his seven children live.

Waving from the top of one of the trucks were Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Although one of Santa’s helpers had tipped off Otte that Christmas’ first couple would be paying his children a visit, a smiling Otte watched in disbelief as the trucks stopped in front of his house.

“I’m very, very shocked,” Otte said. “I didn’t expect the fire department.”

This wasn't a random visit. Otte's oldest son, Brandon Otte, has Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Otte's 2-year-old son, Noah Otte, has autism and is nonverbal.

LCH is a rare cancer that causes excessive amounts of white blood cells to accumulate and form tumors, also known as lesions. Brandon will complete a 52-week chemotherapy regimen in February.

Jeff is working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so Santa and Mrs. Claus dropped by with a boxful of presents, two types of cookies, one children’s Bible and plenty of Christmas cheer for Brandon, Noah and their siblings: Julie, 7; Natalie, 6; Emilie, 4; Callie, 3; and Benjamin, 16 months.

Because Jeff is a Frankfort Fire Department lieutenant/paramedic, Santa contacted Troy Fire Protection District Chief Andy Doyle about the possibility of riding to the Otte house in a truck.

Doyle readily agreed and sent a few firefighters to stand in for the elves.

“The guys are going with him to help Santa give the gifts to the kids,” Doyle said. “The kids deserve this. They’ve gone through so much.”

Rochelle Perinar of Shorewood arranged the Santa visit. Perinar is a recently retired nurse for Troy School District 30-C and had worked at the school some of the Otte children attend.

Perinar said people from the school have supported the Ottes in various ways, including fundraisers and helping out with the kids.

She felt a surprise appearance from the man in the red suit would add some Christmas magic, especially in light of the challenges.

“The biggest is getting people to come in to give quality time to the children,” Perinar said. “He doesn’t need just one person. With seven kids, he needs a team.”

So Perinar called her brother, Arthur Hrvatin of Plano, a former Joliet resident, and his partner, Patricia Price, also of Plano. For the last five years, Hrvatin and Price have maintained a special connection to Santa and Mrs. Claus and try to arrange a very special visit each year to children in need.

“We do it because we love the Lord,” Price said.

The Otte children certainly loved Santa and Mrs Claus. As hugs, gifts and cookies were dispensed, the children’s shouts grew louder, their smiles wider.

“I didn’t know he was coming,” Julie said as she showed off her new shirt, which she slid over her jacket.

Her sister, Natalie, held a cookie in each hand and alternated bites. Her favorite?

“Both,” Natalie said around a mouthful.

But Santa’s visit wasn’t the end of Christmas surprises for the family. On Monday, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is sending the family to Disneyland in California, Jeff said.

Then on Jan. 22, the Joliet Jaguar Hockey Club and its peewee 1 hockey team will host a special hockey fundraiser for Brandon, who will be the honorary peewee 1 team captain for that night.

Brandon had participated on the team before he was diagnosed with LCH last year, said Chris Simpson, Jaguar board member. Since then, the club has included Brandon in activities as much as possible, including its recent Christmas party, he added.

In fact, members were present to share in Brandon’s excitement when Santa rode up on a fire truck. At hockey games, Brandon sits on the bench with the other members, said Laura Hubbard, team manager.

“He’s even done warm-ups with them,” Hubbard said.

Santa had more gifts coming for the Ottes. Starting the week before
Thanksgiving, Anytime Fitness in Frankfort became a place where community "elves" could drop off gifts, including seven bicycles, Samantha Putnam, Anytime Fitness facility manager, said.

“A member had learned about the need on Facebook and suggested it to [assistant manager] Sarah Pinkerton,” Putnam said. “We collected about 300 presents, about the same amount as last year when we sponsored a family for the first time.”

“Elves” even helped themselves to ornaments on the tree, which mentioned special items on the Otte children’s Christmas wish list: Barbies, iPods and anything Disney princess. Anytime Fitness held a gift-wrapping session Thursday and then Jeff picked up the presents with a friend from the Joliet Jaguars.

It took two trips, Jeff said.

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KNOW MORE

To donate to Jeff Otte and his family, visit www.gofundme.com/GoForwardOtteKids.

To follow Brandon Otte’s story, visit BrandonStrong1011 on Facebook.

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IF YOU GO

WHAT: Brandon Otte hockey night

WHEN: 5:15 p.m. Jan. 22

WHERE: Joliet Park District – Inwood Ice Arena, 3000 W. Jefferson St., Joliet

INFO: Contact Kim Simpson at 815-955-3693 or Kimsimp1979@yahoo.com, Chris Simpson at 815-302-1685 or ppsimp1978@yahoo.com or Laura Hubbard at 815-260-0875 or hub38@sbcglobal.net.