Sometimes life sends surprises our way. A couple might find out they’re expecting a rainbow baby after trying for over a decade. Your car tire might randomly go flat. Someone might win the lottery. You might receive the news that your company is laying you off. A student may be shocked to discover that they’ve passed a difficult exam after thinking they’ve failed. Your long-time partner might surprise you with the proposal of a lifetime. Life isn’t predictable most of the time. That’s the beauty and heartache about it.
Dakota Nelson would agree that life can lead to unexpected places. One day, he was cleaning out the garage with his wife, Ream Nelson. All he did was turn his back for five minutes, and when he came back, his 38-year-old wife was on the floor with open eyes and blue skin. After a CPR attempt and a 911 phone call to get her rushed to the emergency room at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, doctors told Dakota that his wife’s heart stopped, and she was without oxygen for approximately 20 minutes.
From July 11, 2018, to September 29, 2018, Ream was in a coma in the ICU. Then on September 30, she passed away, leaving her husband and their seven children behind.
Dakota was not only devastated about losing the love of his life, but part of him felt guilty that he was unable to save her during her unexpected heart attack. However, the father was determined to take on three part-time jobs, which included a position as a Sunday school teacher at a local high school, to continue raising his family.
But eventually, the community he lived in found out about Dakota’s situation. So, for Christmas just months after Ream passed away, East Idaho News decided to give a very special and much-needed Secret Santa gift to Dakota and his family: $1,000-worth of gift cards for Walmart, $1,000-worth of gift cards to go grocery shopping, and an $8,000 check.
As Dakota was about to leave for work, his “Secret Santa” surprised him with the monetary gifts, and he was so stunned that he was left speechless and holding back tears. How shocked he must have been to receive such an unexpected present, let alone, a gift from complete strangers!
The check Dakota received would come in handy when purchasing a larger vehicle that would finally be able to fit all seven of his children. It’s little things such as having enough car seats for all your family members that “normal-sized” families take for granted.
Apart from the special gift the Nelsons received, a GoFundMe page was put up by a woman named Summer Alameel to gather donations to help during the family’s difficult time in need. Initially, the online campaign was started while Ream was in a coma. But even after her passing, the Nelson family could still use financial help.
So far, the GoFundMe page helped the family earn nearly $57,000 of their $250,000 goal.
Dakota was overwhelmed with emotion following both the Secret Santa gift and GoFundMe donations. In a lengthy letter, he said:
“It is hard to write this as I am at a total loss of words. There is no way for me to accurately convey how grateful we are for this kindness. As I was surprised with the gifts, I looked at my kids – who will remember this event forever as the best time they had in a hard time. Thank you for being an example to my family on how to look out for the needs of others.
I have noticed that through this ordeal, we have been blessed to see kindness replace the pain of losing a loved one whom I had been married to for 17 years. My children have noted this and have stated that they want to do the same for others.
Thank you again for making this Christmas special…”
The Nelsons deserve every penny plus more. Being a single father, let alone a grieving father with more children than one hand can count, is never easy, but so far, he and his family are doing a good job at sticking together and getting through the difficulties.
Watch Dakota receive the $10,000 below.
