Saint Nick can kick back today at the North Pole safe in the knowledge that his biggest fan adores him and stands ready to protect his integrity from all pretenders.
Mason Pyper, 9, is no ordinary kid. Perhaps Santa has seen Mason’s list of challenges, and checked it twice.
It includes, in no particular order: A genetic deletion of the 15th chromosome believed to be unique in the world. Marfan syndrome, which affects connective tissue, gives Mason unusual height and length of limbs and can lead to things like ruptures of the heart. Epilepsy. Hypotonia, or weak muscle tone. Intellectual development delay. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Autism.
Oh, and one other condition, less medically menacing. ESO. Extreme Santa Obsession.
“Mason LOVES Santa Claus,” says big sister Mary, 13.
“Santa is his idol,” adds his other sister Annabel, 11.
“Talks about him all year,” says their dad, Andrew.
It started about four years ago, when Mason saw the Kurt Russell/Goldie Hawn flick The Christmas Chronicles. He has watched it almost weekly ever since, his sisters tell me.
So, Mason knows exactly what Santa looks like, which can be a problem. Sadly, Santa does not always look like Kurt Russell, including the other day at a west Scarborough mall.
“He’s a fake Santa,” Mason told his sisters, and marched over to the big red chair.
“You’re not the real one,” he told the un-Kurt-Russell-like Santa, in his halting way.
“But, yes. Yes, I am,” replied the bemused old elf.
“No, you’re not. I can see your hair.”
Bystanders held their breath.
“C’mon, Mason,” said Mary, calmly. “Let’s go check out the dollar store.”
Thank heaven for big sisters.
“They’re fantastic at keeping the magic going,” says their dad.
Which brings us to Variety Village. Mason and little Anderson, 6, are off somewhere making brotherly mischief. Their dad once worked here as a lifeguard, so he knew what it could do for Mason — and the whole family.
“When Mason was first diagnosed (at three months) they told us he may never walk, he may never talk,” says his mom, Jenny. “They were a bit off.”
Years of speech, physio and occupational therapy have seen to that, as has Variety Village.
All the Pypers are regulars here. Mary and Annabel have starred on the Flames or synchronized swim teams over the years. The boys also swim, or gambol about the playgrounds of the big fieldhouse and are regulars at the Village’s legendary summer camps. Mason does taekwondo, too.
“I love that we can all do stuff in the same place,” says Mary, “and Mason’s not the only one here who needs extra help. I don’t think we could find that anywhere else. People would stare at us. Here they don’t.
“He’s my little brother, so I want him to be safe.”
So, what’s it like having a brother like Mason?
“I’m glad in a way,” says Annabel. “I treat people with disabilities like any other person, but I know not everybody does. Maybe I’d be mean like that, too, if Mason wasn’t my brother.”
I doubt it. The Pypers, each in their way, are a formidable force.
They have to be. Mason’s future, frankly, is uncertain. His genetic glitches are so unusual, no one’s sure of their long-term effects. No doubt, he’ll be shopping at Big & Tall. He’s already outgrown youth clothes and his foot size nearly matches his age — a men’s size 8 ½ .
I suspect a certain rotund fellow in red will long be part of Mason’s life.
“Maybe he’ll believe in Santa Claus forever,” says Mary.
“I hope so.”
$100,000 AND COUNTING
One milestone down, one to go.
Thanks to the real Santa and to all of you generous elves, we’re over 100 grand for this year’s Sun Christmas Fund for Variety Village, that beloved sports centre in Scarborough catering to kids with disabilities.
I expect we’ll go over $2 million all time in the next few days. Stay tuned for an official count. Meantime, take a bow. That goes for these kind souls, our most recent donors. You can give direct at www.sunchristmasfund.ca. Or call the Village at 416-699-7167 or use the QR code below.
Jacques Senecal, Scarborough, $50
Anonymous, $500
John Laskey, Port Perry, $100
Cynthia McLeod, Toronto, $100
Graeme Kirkland, Toronto, $300
Patti Armstrong, Oshawa, $100
Nancy Rychel, Toronto, $50, in honour of Karen Lyall
Ken Williams, Consort, Alta, $300
Anonymous, $100
Dave Misetich, Mississauga, $100
Anonymous, $100
Lynn Slade, Toronto, $150
Robert and Karen Benz, Mississauga, $100
Anonymous, $50
Anonymous, $100
Bev and Bradd Mortley, Toronto, $50
Duncan Bell, Waterdown, $200
Kevin Foster, Toronto, $100
Kevin Lafferty, Toronto, $2,000
Patti and Dave Pagett, Kitchener, $25
Gerry Belisle, Toronto, $75
Roland Skinner, Alliston, $40
T. Robert Hambley, Toronto, $500
Claudette Wilson, Toronto, $200
John and Sandra Weddell, Newmarket, $50
Elizabeth Ann Leach, Scarborough, $100
Donna Cullen, Scarborough, $200
Bonnie and Rick Finch, Clinton, $25
Pearl Hewitt and Debbie Groppo, Mississauga, $200, in memory of Archie’s mom, Jessie Allison
Lynn Nissenbaum, Toronto, $50
Marie Johnson, Brampton, $50
Shirley Lawson, Keswick, $100
George Elliott, Brampton, $100
Irene Clarke, Woodbridge, $100
James Jackson, Scarborough, $100
Anne Marie Kraemer, Waterloo, $40
Thomas Anderson, Toronto, $200
Elizabeth Miskiw, Toronto, $250
TOTAL: $6,955
TOTAL TO DATE: $101,446