"I'm glad," said Dr. J. Thomas Heywood, a cardiologist at Loma Linda University Medical Center, who performed the examination. "We had to get him well for Christmas."

William Zeidlik, a 70-year-old retired property developer from Menifee, came to the hospital Friday in his Santa costume. Doctors checked out the pacemaker-defibrilator implanted in Zeidlik's chest on Nov. 30.

The equipment was working fine, and the 6-foot, 5-inch Zeidlik stopped off on his way out to greet visitors in the lobby of the medical center's adjoining Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.

"I've always liked to work with kids, and I have some grandchildren," Zeidlik said, explaining why he has played Santa for 15 years, the last three of which while suffering from congestive heart failure and a disorder that causes his heart to stop at times when he sleeps.

The device in his chest keeps his heart beating and doubles as a device to slow an occasionally rapid heartbeat. The costume still fits the 270-pound Santa even after Zeidlik lost 35 pounds due to his illness. His natural white beard remains intact.

Zeidlik began his Santa career working for Disneyland making "outcall" appearances at businesses and fund-raising events. He made television commercials for the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots program, and he has appeared as Santa at nursing homes and fund-raising events throughout Southern California.

He made his most recent public appearance Wednesday at a women's club in Menifee and has more planned in the next week or so.

"I feel pretty good," he said.

Zeidlik said he was happy about that because "I believe in Santa Claus, and there's only one Santa Claus."

Reach Darrell R. Santschi at (909) 792-9484 or dsantschi@pe.com