GRANBY, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) -- In Granby, a Christmas miracle that the Caraballo family is not taking for granted. After spending most of his life back and forth from Boston Children’s Hospital, 18-month-old Evan will be experiencing an at-home holiday for the first time ever.

It’s one of those stories that makes you grateful for the everyday things in your life, such as talking, walking, and even being able to eat on your own. For Evan Caraballo and his family are just happy to be under their own roof this December 25th.

However, there’s plenty of others, including Kris Kringle himself, who are helping make Evan’s holiday as special as can be.

We spoke to Evan’s mom, Stephanie Wilson, who tells us, “I could not have asked for a better Christmas gift...This is all I need.”

The first 17 months of Evan Caraballo’s life have been an uphill battle to say the least.

Evan’s home healthcare nurse from Maximum Healthcare, Kristie Levrault tells us a little about what he’s been going through. She tells us, “He’s got a chromosomal abnormality and then was born with some issues with his jaw and palate... that he couldn’t swallow.”

However, she explains that the health troubles didn’t stop there. “He also had to have a tracheostomy put in, surgery for his jaw... He’s had so many surgeries.”

Then when Evan finally came home, his mother, Stephanie Wilson, had a gut feeling that something was wrong. She insisted on an ultrasound, where they found a spot of cancer on Evan’s liver.

“Eight weeks of chemotherapy, which was so hard to watch him go through... So hard,” Levrault continues.

Now that Evan is in the best health of his life, he’s fortunate to spend it right here in Granby. Kristie saying, “Boston Hospitals did the best they could to make it special for him, but being home, that’s special...This is two Christmases to be made up in one.”

Evan’s parents struggled to put into words how much this holiday means to them. His mom Stephanie says its, “A dream come true... And having him home, seeing how well he’s overcome so much, it’s been a blessing.”

It may not be Christmas just yet, but Evan got some special visitors all the way from the north pole.

We got to speak with Santa Claus himself, visiting from the Granby Fire Department. “This poor little boy is going through some medical things that we wanted to make sure he had himself a very Merry Christmas,” he says.

It was an emotional moment for all involved. Stephanie tells us, “Seeing Santa pull up... It brought tears to my eyes.” Santa Claus himself even called this occasion a Christmas miracle.

The goals for the future are to work on Evan’s physical therapy and hopefully remove his g-tube and tracheostomy. Before that, the family plans to just take some time together, giving a new meaning to “home for the holidays.”

Tuesday’s surprise is all thanks to the Granby Fire Department, who gifted Evan with 30 new toys. All in support of their goal, to give Evan the most magical first Christmas at home.

Copyright 2025. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.