MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A special visit brought some holiday cheer to children spending Christmas in the hospital.

Dressed in his red suit and hat, Santa stopped by Children's Wisconsin with some superhero friends. Firefighters from various departments traded in their firefighting gear for capes on Christmas Day.

It's the eighth year the Milwaukee Fire Department has done this, along with the help of the Wauwatosa, West Allis and St. Francis Fire Departments.

“We do that by bringing them up in the buckets so they can get up close to the children and wave to them through the window,” said Trevor Pinkalla with MFD.

It all began when Pinkalla’s son Brian was diagnosed with third stage kidney cancer when he was just two years old. Brian spent six months inside the hospital, missing out on many family events and holidays.

“A lot of those kids just like my son were isolated and they couldn’t be in front of other people because of their immune system and such,” said Pinkalla.

Now in remission, the Pinkallas come to Children's Wisconsin every year to bring joy to families inside.

“Really found out that it was really important that we notice we’re away from family during the holidays,” said Pinkalla.

Earlier this year – one of Santa's helpers was on the other side of these windows.

“I have triplet girls that were actually here for 97 days in the NICU,” said Dylan Brodaczynski with MFD.

It's a tradition, these firefighters say, is what the holiday spirit is all about.

“They’re the reason why I do this for a living,” said Brodaczynski.