Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ST. GEORGE — A St. George man who has portrayed a beloved Father Christmas for more than 30 years recently suffered health problems, and the community has reached out to help.
More than 45 years ago, a young Tom Packer commissioned his mother to make him a Santa suit and he began playing the Christmas icon. Eventually, he secured the role of the original Father Christmas at the Dickens Christmas Festival.
In October, Tom Packer suffered from pneumonia and never fully recovered, according to his daughter-in-law, Julie Packer.
His doctors highly advised him not to participate in the Dickens Christmas Festival in December, but he couldn't stay away. He finished up the festival, but not long after, doctors found a blockage in his heart.
On Dec. 17, he underwent open-heart triple-bypass surgery. The surgery went great and the recovery was swift, but his health soon declined once again.
After undergoing some tests, doctors found he had a leaking heart valve, and he was airlifted to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray Dec. 29 to have another surgery the next day.
The surgery went well, and he has since been taken off breathing tubes, but is still on the mend.
"The Packer family, they're so strong, and everything just makes us even stronger," Julie Packer said.
The Packer family visited Tom Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the hospital. She said her father-in-law is a fighter and is ready to bounce back to do Christmas again.
Tom Packer has never missed a day of the Dickens Christmas Festival, which takes place in St. George and Salt Lake. If there's one thing he lives for, Julie Packer said, it's his Father Christmas moments.
"He just loves kids ... being a part of the lives, he loves bringing the magic of Christmas into everybody's home," Julie Packer said.
Brittany Dell sat on Tom Packer's lap as a little girl. Now, she is the director of the Dickens Christmas Festival and her kids sit on his lap.
Dell said he never makes the kids feel rushed and he spends a quality amount of time with each child, relaying the story of why reindeer fly and listening to them.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and he's going to pull through, he's an amazing, amazing man, and we are wishing him the best," Dell said.
A GoFundMe account* has been set up in Tom Packer's name, and more than $10,000 has been donated so far.
Julie Packer said their family gets hundreds of calls every day from people asking what they can do to help. She said the family wants to thank the community, doctors and nurses.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
