On Angels’ Wings (OAW), a nonprofit providing free therapeutic photography and long-term grief-recovery support to families facing the loss of a child or caring for a child with a terminal risk diagnosis, has completed its 2025 private Santa Mini Sessions across its three largest service regions: Springfield, St. Louis, and Oklahoma City. This year’s sessions once again created a space of comfort, remembrance, and joy during a season that can be emotionally complex for families navigating grief or serious illness.
OAW provided 48 sessions in Springfield, 15 in St. Louis, and 6 in Oklahoma City, all fully funded by Phoenix Home Care & Hospice, whose continued support makes these private sessions possible at no cost to families.
These sessions reflect the heart of the organization’s mission. For many families, the holidays are not simply celebrations—they are markers of milestones, memories, and the quiet resilience it takes to navigate each year. In Oklahoma City, journey recipient Vicky Combs shared, “Every year is a celebration of another year of beating the odds. The Santa pictures are especially meaningful. We share the photos with all the therapists, doctors, friends and family.”
“Being a medically complex family means we can’t do typical things other families do,” says St. Louis journey recipient mom, Stephanie Weidknecht. “We can’t do big outings with huge crowds, which means no public Santa photos in order to keep Wyatt safe. Then OAW started offering private 1-1 photo shoots with Santa for our family. Seeing our kids light up with joy when they see Santa just makes me so emotional. OAW gives families like ours normalcy during the holidays; we are so grateful for these opportunities.”
For families who have experienced the death of a child, the sessions offer a rare and gentle opportunity to include their child’s memory in a holiday tradition. In St. Louis, loss recipient Taylor Roberson reflected on the impact the photos have had on her family. “Losing our son Jacob has left a space in our hearts that can never be filled, but these photos help us carry his memory with us. The gift On Angels’ Wings offered our family is truly priceless—moments preserved that we will cherish forever. Their compassion means more than words can say.”
“Santa Minis are a highlight of our year,” says Springfield loss recipient, Kylie Brownfield. “This season always brings a little headache for what is missing in our family, but Santa brings joy to our lives! We love seeing the children grow through the photos each year. They are memories we’ll cherish forever!”
Private Santa Minis are offered exclusively to OAW recipient families once a service area reaches at least 100 families served. Families meet with a Santa who is familiar with OAW’s mission and intentionally trained to create an environment that is sensitive to both grief and medical fragility. For journey recipient Sara Kaderly of Springfield, who attends every year with her children, the experience is deeply personal. “He remembers each of the kids EVERY year—their names, interests, jokes. He remembers what makes them special and takes time to make sure each child feels that way—special, seen, safe, loved. In a short 15-minute session, he put some magic back into the mundane and made their holiday.”
This year, OAW added butterfly ornaments to the Christmas trees in Springfield and St. Louis, a symbolic touch meant to honor children lost and those still courageously fighting. While subtle, the addition became a meaningful element for families—especially those who used the session to include a photo of a child who is no longer living. Springfield loss recipient Jessie Masterson shared how much that mattered to her. “Our children who are no longer living can also be included by using a photo of them to be photographed with Santa during the session. In this environment the photographers and staff understand loss. We were treated so kindly and the volunteer photographer was so patient.”
Volunteer Santas also expressed how deeply the sessions impact them. In St. Louis, Dave and Sherrie Marion (Santa Dave & Mrs. Claus) described the privilege of being part of these moments: “Those who bring photos of their lost babies touch us with a deep sense of humanity and we’re honored to share in their photos.”
In Springfield, Stewart Collins (Santa S.C.), who has served OAW families for five years, noted, “A parent’s love is amazing. To get to play a little part in bringing a smile or a laugh to them and their children is such a blessing.”
As OAW’s recipient communities continue to grow, traditions like Santa Minis stand as a reminder of what the organization strives to provide year-round—emotional safety, compassionate support, and moments of joy that families can carry with them long after the session ends.
About On Angels’ Wings
On Angels’ Wings provides free therapeutic photography, grief-recovery support, and long-term community care for families whose child has a terminal risk diagnosis or who experience the loss of a child at birth. Serving families from pregnancy through the child’s 18th year, OAW walks alongside families for as long as they need, offering compassion, connection, and hope. Learn more here.
St. Louis Santa Minis
Oklahoma City Santa Minis
Springfield, MO Santa Minis
