When Roger Minton received the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 2022, his life took an unexpected turn. His first concern wasn't for himself but for the role he held dear - that of Santa. Minton had been spreading Christmas cheer as Santa since 2008, and he knew the impact it had on people. "Santa brings a lot of joy to people," he said. "I didn't want any child - or even an adult - to see him in bad health."

How It All Began

Minton's Santa career started 15 Christmases ago at his family's holiday party. Their hired Santa had canceled, but luckily, his aunt had his uncle's old Santa suit in a closet. He quickly ran to the store, bought a beard, and saved the day. From that moment on, he was hooked. "What's better than playing the happiest dude on the planet?" he asked. "He is the embodiment of giving and loving."Through his business Timeless Santa, Minton hosts various Christmas activities. He hosts storytimes at libraries, presides over tree lightings, poses for photos at Christmas Tree Farms, goes on holiday hikes, and visits homes for Christmas parties. "Walking into a house and seeing everybody light up is a lot of fun," he said. He also takes care of his appearance, bleaching his curly beard and mustache every December and filling his wardrobe with red and green.

The Health Struggle

In 2012, Minton's health started to deteriorate. A crushing migraine led to partial, temporary vision loss in his left eye. A doctor suspected multiple sclerosis, but he didn't have health insurance at the time. For the next decade, he tried to ignore his headaches and leg pains, using over-the-counter medication to alleviate them.Then, in 2021, another severe migraine and vision loss sent him back to the doctor. He received his official MS diagnosis in 2022. Multiple sclerosis causes a breakdown of the protective covering of nerves, leading to various symptoms such as numbness, weakness, trouble walking, and vision changes. Some people even lose the ability to walk on their own.Minton was referred to Dr. Jeanie Cote, a neurologist specializing in multiple sclerosis at Memorial Healthcare in Owasso, Mich. He asked her if he needed to give up being Santa. "I didn't want kids to see Santa sick," he said. Cote assured him that with proper treatment, he could continue to spread Santa's magic. "The best way to continue to be Santa was to treat his MS well," she said. "He's got a lot of Santa in him."Minton participated in a clinical trial of a subcutaneous infusion, Ocrevus Zunovo, a new medication that requires two 10-minute infusions a year. In September, it was approved by the FDA. "He's been doing exceptionally," Cote said.

The Support System

Minton's wife Erica has been a huge source of support for him. The two share two teenage sons. Erica had a stroke 8 years ago but Minton encouraged her to keep going and helped her relearn how to walk. "He was there for me," she said. "I can be there for him just as much."She assists him in his Santa gigs by playing Mrs. Claus or Wingnutte, the elf that runs the reindeer barn at the North Pole. When Santa needs to rest, she keeps the kids entertained with her cartwheels and dances.Minton also received support from the other 500 Santas in his community. When he didn't want to carry a cane, another local Santa carved him a large wooden staff.

Dealing with Symptoms

Minton still has MS symptoms like brain fog and calf pain. But the "burning sensation" in his thighs is the hardest to deal with as Santa. Last year, at the end of a 12-hour shift, his legs were hurting when a child jumped onto his lap. "It was excruciating for me, and I winced," he said. But he encourages children to stand beside him for a photo instead.Knowing how much happiness he brings helps him work through the pain. On days when he struggles, Erica is there to encourage him. "I'm like, 'Guess what jolly man, get your butt up! Let's go have a cookie and we're going to go do this,'" she said. "We both have our darker moments - as I think everybody does - there are times when life beats you down repeatedly and it gets really hard." But love, she said, is what keeps them both moving forward. "When everything else hurts and everything is tough and everything's scary - the greatest thing you can do is love somebody else," Erica said.