Saint Nicholas, more formally known as Nikolaos of Myra, was a fourth century saint and bishop in Lycia, which is now part of modern day Turkey. His miracles of intercession and efforts to provide gifts for the downtrodden earned Nicholas a reputation for altruism, a historic legacy that persists today in the incarnation of Santa Claus.
Enttauschungsohn told reporters that visiting the birthplace of his hero was meant to be the highlight of his lifetime. But when curators led Enttauschungsohn down a series of dank catacombs and into the room bearing Nicholas' tomb, the traumatized teen fell to the ground in the throes of a nervous breakdown.
"Theys showed me this coffins and says it's the restings place of St. Nicks," Enttauschungsohn sobbed. "He's deads. That's whats theys meants. Santa Claus is deads. Ands he's beens deads for thousands of years. Everybodies ins the worlds has lieds to me."
Enttauschungsohn's parents said their boy returned home dejected, disillusioned and with a dramatic change in behavior that doctors are now calling post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A family physician overseeing Enttauschungsohn's care stated: "It's clearly PTSD. This boy has suffered trauma that we generally see in combat veterans. He no longer trusts those around him and has rejected his family completely. At this point, we have moved him to a mental health care facility where he can convalesce and undergo the necessary therapy. But even then, I'm not sure his trust issues will ever truly abate. It's a tragedy, to be sure."
(c) 2011. See disclaimers.