What happens when Santa slips out of his sleigh and breaks his arm?

He goes to the ho-ho-hospital. 

For Gallatin’s very own Santa Claus, aka William Slather, that hospital was Highpoint Health – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas. Santa Slather then followed up with Greg Glover, PA-C, at Highpoint Orthopedic Associates in Gallatin. He was so smitten with his care, this professional Santa showed up before his big day to spread some Christmas joy.  “Greg and his whole staff were so great, in all my visits, reworking my cast and everything,” Santa Slather recalls. The bell on his red fuzzy hat jingling, he adds, “So I told him at Christmas Time I’m going to stop by and visit.”

Thursday, December 19th, Santa Slather and his wife Eve made good on that promise, landing at the orthopedic clinic to shower staff and families with merry appreciation. Mrs. Claus, a.k.a Christmas Eve as she’s affectionately called by the school children she’s served for over 40 years, smooths out her red plaid skirt and smiles. “This is our way of giving back, she says, “because the staff here is so caring.”

“God did everything,” says Greg  in response to Santa’s praise, “I just told him not to use (his arm).”

Greg fitted Santa with a red cast after his fracture earlier this year. The cast had to be red, otherwise “the elves might not appreciate it.” Santa Slather laughs, saying it sounds better to tell people he slipped out of his sleigh than what really happened – stepping off a ladder one rung too early, falling and breaking his wrist. “It was his right hand,” says Greg “so Santa was concerned about being able to lift children onto his lap.” 

A quiet voice, Santa Slather makes you lean in and slow down while you visit with the jolly old man. “You’ve got to be in the moment,” he says. “And know to leave before the magic fades,” adds Mrs. C with a smile. 

The compassionate care given by Greg and the entire staff at Highpoint Orthopedic Associates etched an impression on the Clauses and earned them top spots on the good list. While Santa doesn't recommend breaking a bone, he “highly recommends coming here to see Greg.”

Seems like the orthopedic team spins up their own kind of Santa-approved magic all year long.