Donning cap, cape
BUTLER TWP — Workers at the Butler Regional Cancer Center seemed unsurprised recently to see Mrs. Claus waltz through their door, toting a bag filled with silver packages.
With bells jangling from her wrist, she distributed the gifts to the staff, calling each one by name.
"I call him Dr. Ho Ho: I'm allowed to do that," said Sylvia Enslen of Butler, wrapping her arms around Dr. Hung-Chi Ho, a radiation oncologist there.
In a faux fur cape and floor-length dress, Enslen then proceeded to the chemotherapy lab, where her friend Luella Gold helped her hand out candy canes.
Although Enslen, 74, at one time made the visits alone, Gold of Jefferson Township began driving her about eight years ago.
"I caught my apron in the gear shift," Enslen explained over her shoulder, walking briskly to stay on schedule.
As well as visiting the cancer center that day, the pair would visit an array of other offices in the same medical complex, then drive in Gold's white Cadillac to visit Enslen's eye doctor, dentist, family doctor and surgeon, popping in on surrounding offices.
With Gold donning a red jacket and Santa hat, the pair also would drive to see Enslen's oncologist in Wexford, continuing their visits on later days to the McQuistion Elementary School and the Evans City Senior Center.
"Everyone really enjoys it," said Dr. Cynthia Evans, who specializes in oncology and hematology at the cancer center. "They all look forward to it."
Enslen began portraying Mrs. Claus 25 years ago at Butler County Community College, where she worked in student activities.
"One of the students wrote a skit for me called 'The Year Santa Forgot Mrs. Claus,'" she said.
"Mrs. Claus helped Santa at the BC3 child care center giving out candy and assisting in distributing gifts," she explained.
Enslen eventually took her show to the Butler Veterans Affairs Medical Hospital, entertaining handicapped veterans at their annual holiday party. Before her retirement in 1999, students would volunteer as elves for many of those appearances.
Enslen decided to include the medical community in 1987, when her late husband was diagnosed with cancer."I accompanied him to the Butler Regional Cancer Center and noticed how many people were receiving treatment and how uncomfortable they were," Enslen explained."I decided to do something to cheer them up, if only for a few moments."A year after his death in 2002, the medical community became more important to Enslen after her own diagnosis of uterine cancer."My husband was one of those people in the chairs," she said, entering the chemotherapy lounge. "I was on the radiation side."Now celebrating six years of remission, Enslen said she still feels gratitude for the kindness offered there."During my cancer treatment I was attended by many caring doctors, nurses and other medical personnel," she said."It was then that I decided to show my appreciation to all of those who helped with my care."This season, Enslen distributed about 50 wrapped gifts to medical workers and hundreds of candy canes to patients.To maximize her budget, she begins shopping during post-Christmas sales, gathering ornaments and other small items."I love wrapping them up," she said. "I have a bag for each office.""This is my 25th year of visiting the various facilities which have impacted my life. I shall continue to do this as long as I am able."
