Former president George W. Bush dropped in on a Dallas children’s hospital dressed as Santa earlier this week, complete with a Secret Service detail appearing as his elves.
According to the Daily Mail , Bush visited the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, handing out toys to patients who unfortunately have to spend the holiday at the facility. One family, who lost one of their twin daughters earlier this year to a heart disease called restrictive cardomyopathy, posted a picture of Bush to Facebook on December 16.
George W Bush dresses up as Santa to hand out toys at children’s hospital http://t.co/Gtrzo29uR0 pic.twitter.com/MJbltitFXd
— Marc Hilliker (@MarcHilliker) December 20, 2014
The family’s surviving daughter, Emily, has undergone heart transplant surgery, yet she has returned to the hospital several times as her body rejects the organ. Her mother, Natalie Smith, detailed Bush’s visit on social media.
“Guess who just came and gave Emily a Christmas present dressed in a Santa suit with Secret Service and all?!?!?………. Pres. George Bush,” she wrote.
Bush has lifetime protection from the Secret Service, as all former presidents do, and reports on Twitter noted that his detail accompanied him to the hospital dressed as Santa’s elves. According to BizPacReview , no media representatives were at the hospital when Bush visited.
George W Bush visited a children’s hospital dressed as Santa and brought presents. (Elf is a secret service agent) pic.twitter.com/nvaA2DwDUQ
— ComfortablySmug (@ComfortablySmug) December 20, 2014
Though the former president has kept a low profile since leaving office, he recently made a surprise visit to the September 11 museum in New York City. Appearing there last weekend, Bush was greeted by museum President Joe Daniels and Director Alice Greenwald. Bush toured the museum after arriving unannounced around 6 p.m. last Sunday, taking time to shake hands with people who reportedly thanked him for his service as president.
I am excited to announce I will actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States: https://t.co/luY4lCF2cA .
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 16, 2014
Earlier this week, Bush’s brother, Jeb, announced that he was formally exploring the possibility of a 2016 presidential campaign. As the Inquisitr previously reported, the timing of Bush’s announcement was widely thought to pressure other potential Republican candidates into deciding whether they intended to engage in a presidential run. One source asserted that public pressure from donors for a new Mitt Romney campaign was actually intended to push Jeb Bush into announcing his candidacy early.
Aside from his gesture at the Dallas hospital, George W. Bush is also known to work with various veterans groups.
[Image: Shayde and Emily Hearts 4/2/ Facebook via the Daily Mail ]
