she was seeing. take a close look at this photo. it might look like a common moment. but this was a moment like few others. a 6-year-old boy smiling with his hands to santa's face. matthew foster is blind and autistic. born premature, he spent more than 100 days in the nicu. he's now in kindergarten. he's made real progress. but his parents tell us, rarely will he take a photo smiling. and rarely does he connect the way he did with santa. >> as soon as somebody mentioned taking a picture, he just melts down. >> reporter: it all happened while they were in line at cabela's in ft. worth, texas. mom had an idea. >> i whispered he's blind. he's autistic. he held his hand up. he said, say no more. he immediately touched matthew's hands and put his hands on his shoulders. so he could feel his coat and the fuzz and the hat. he gained matthew's trust instantly. >> reporter: so what was behind that magical moment? that connection? we asked the man in the suit. santa. >> matthew feels my beard. and he feels my eyes.