SACO — Thanks to the generosity of anonymous Christmas “angels,” children with chronic health and special needs have been given a bit of holiday magic.

HomeHealth Visiting Nurses Vice President of Development and Marketing Mia Millefoglie said she interviews children once ill with cancer and now in recovery who had received services from the agency, and as a thank-you gift, would give them a copy of the book “Frosty the Snowman,” an adaptation of the popular holiday song with bright, colorful illustrations by Kennebunk artist Wade Zahares, and a CD of Kenny Loggins version of the holiday classic.

“It’s really magical,” said Millefoglie. “It just transports you for a little bit of time to a place of magic.”

Millefoglie said the idea struck last week to buy the book as a holiday gift for children in the agency’s caseload, particularly those who are medically fragile, and “put a smile on someone’s face.”

Millefoglie said she took “a leap of faith” and ordered 250 books, and then found people in the community, who wish to remain anonymous, to pay for the books.

“It touched everybody,” she said.

On Thursday morning, Zahares was at the HomeHealth Visiting Nurses office signing books. Nurses were scheduled to deliver the books to children later.

“It’s a timeless story,” said Zahares.

He said he had never signed so many books in one sitting, but he was happy to be part of the project.

“This is a great thing they’re doing,” he said.

HomeHealth Visiting Nurses pediatric services include nursing care, developmental and rehabilitative therapies, and palliative care for children with serious or life-threatening illnesses.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].