One anonymous act of kindness created an unforgettable moment for a widowed dad.
From garage to grief
It was an ordinary Idaho day for Dakota Nelson and wife Rheam. They were in the garage when Dakota left to get some tools. Nothing could have prepared him for what he returned to minutes later.
"We were just in the garage, goofing around, having fun. We came back and she was just dead on the ground basically"
- Dakota Nelson
Dakota frantically performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Doctors say Rheam's brain went without oxygen for almost 20 minutes. After several weeks in a coma, 38-year old Rheam passed away.
Shocked and grief-stricken, Nelson struggled with his sadness while still working three jobs to support his seven children, ages one to sixteen.
Anonymous angel
One day, as Nelson was picking up his kids from school, he was surprised by local news correspondent Nate Eaton.
After introducing himself to the widow, Eaton revealed a gift box and asks if Nelson's children wanted to see what was inside.
They opened it to find $2,000 in gift cards for groceries and essentials.
That wasn't the whole story.
"I forgot to put one more thing in there, hopefully you can use this"
- Nate Eaton of East Idaho News
Eaton handed Nelson a cheque for $8,000. He was speechless and overcome with emotion.
When Nelson asks who to thank, he's told simply that it's anonymous. After a few moments of shocked silence, both Eaton and Nelson share a teary hug.
Give to do good, not look good
It's agonizingly impossible to imagine how difficult life's been for Dakota Nelson. Yet he says that although it's been a challenging year, he counts his blessings.
You can be sure that includes the perfect stranger who recognizes that it's the gesture -- not the fanfare -- that matters most. It's an example we can all learn from.
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