Five-year-old Braden Cates looked up and saw Santa but couldn’t immediately remember what he wanted for Christmas.

Then it came to him.

“I want a robot,” he said, smiling and whirling between his fingers the candy cane Santa had just given him.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Santa said.

Last Christmas, this Santa — known as Rex Williams most of the time — wasn’t worried about gift giving. For all he knew, it was the last time he would enjoy the holiday.

But since a July lung transplant, Williams said he had learned that giving could be more rewarding than receiving. So he spent Tuesday braving long lines and busy roads around Lawrence to spread holiday cheer dressed as Santa Claus.

Williams’ maroon Ford Windstar served as his sleigh as he waved at people passing in their cars.

“It’s something I can do because I don’t work,” Williams said. “I’ve made a lot of kids happy and seen lots of smiles.”

With his wife, Judy, at his side, Williams has been spending his free time this Christmas giving back to a community that he said supported him through tough times.

A year ago, Rex Williams didn't think he'd see another Christmas, but thanks to a lung transplant in July he is able to spread holiday cheer this season. Williams is pictured above dressed as Santa reading to, from left, Calais Johnson, 2, MaKenna Norcross, 4, and Sadee Morgan, 2.

In July, Williams and his family were in limbo, praying he would survive the dangerous lung transplant he was about to undergo at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City. Many Lawrence residents contributed to help the family defray medical and travel expenses.

“I thought last Christmas was going to be my last,” Williams said. “This is the first year since I’ve had my grandchildren I’ve been able to do anything with them.”

The 52-year-old retiree was diagnosed with emphysema in 1995. Before the transplant, he was so ill he couldn’t walk down the basement stairs of his eastern Lawrence home.

Tuesday, strolling through the aisles at Sears, Williams handed out small candy canes to the old and the young. His eyes glistened when a child came into view.

Jennifer Cates, Braden’s mother, stood watching as her son peered skyward at Saint Nick.

“There’s not many people around who will do stuff like that,” said Cates, 22. “All I thought was ‘Oh good, he gets to see Santa.'”

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Pam Huddlestun, assistant store manager at Sears, where Judy Williams also works, said she wished there were more people like Rex and Judy.

“It’s been cool for us adults, too,” Huddlestun said.

As Rex and Judy left Sears, a group of young men washing cars across the parking lot threw their hands in the air and yelled for Santa’s attention.

“Merry Christmas,” Williams yelled heartily.

A group of residents from Cottonwood Inc. threw open the door of their van to get a better view of Santa.

Rex Williams driving Tuesday around Lawrence.

“They were just really taken back and surprised — almost speechless,” said Cynthia Petrie, a worker at Cottonwood who was driving the residents, who have developmental disabilities. “It’s a really thoughtful thing to do in keeping with the Christmas spirit.”

After the holidays, Williams said his focus would return to church and living healthfully.

Williams said the pain he has endured and the 14 different medications he takes daily pale in comparison to the joy he received from simple waves and greetings from passersby.

“The simple things. That’s what makes life great,” Rex said, speaking through tears. “You learn not to take anything for granted.”

— Carlos Rodriguez can be reached at 832-7144.