Photo: Quincey Swanson and Dr. Dan DeFreece of CHI Health St. Mary's accept gift bags

NEBRASKA CITY- With the founder of Christmas Wishes Paying It Forward a hospital patient herself this year, the job of delivering gift bags fell on the person who inspired the effort six years ago.

Jaylee Hoyle was as a second grader when she wrote a letter to Santa Claus asking for flowers that would cheer up her mom. Nebraska City resident Margaret Spiers said she had found $100 on a walk and decided to make Jaylee’s wish come true by having the flowers delivered to the school.

Years later, the 13-year-old Nebraska City girl was working with her family at the local farmers market, babysitting and taking cleaning jobs over the summer when she met Spiers.

Hoyle: “I started cleaning for Margaret and I found out that I was the one that she wrote Jaylee’s Wishes about.”

Hoyle says the flowers were a springboard for her mother’s recovery from an accident and an encouragement for her too.

Hoyle: “I got called down to the office and I’m like ‘what’s going on?’ and there’s flowers for my mom.”

 

 

She was surprised to learn that her letter had inspired a lady who read it in the newspaper, but had not prompted a special delivery from the most famous wish giver.

Hoyle: “She read me the story because she noticed my name and it was about me. (What was that like?)
It was pretty exciting but also I was like ‘oh, I thought Santa actually bought me flowers,’ but it was Margaret.”

Spiers says it is fitting for Hoyle and her giving spirit to be a good will ambassador for Christmas Wishes.