A Secret Santa surprise for a mom who was embarrassed at how she responded to a gift 9 years ago
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 พ.ย. 2023
- #eastidahonews #secretsanta #christmas
The EastIdahoNews.com team is busy helping a local Secret Santa give $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season. This is the ninth year the Secret Santa is blessing people in our community and every day, from now until the end of the year, we will post videos of the recipients being surprised with these life-changing gifts.
In 2015, Secret Santa asked us to surprise a woman named Lori. She had recently left an abusive marriage and was raising seven kids on her own. One of them had serious health problems and Lori had a lot on her plate.
A few weeks ago, Lori sent us the following email:
This email is going to be a bit strange but I have had this feeling I need to explain myself for quite a while.
The first year that Secret Santa started, I was chosen as a recipient. I was given $2,000, for which I am grateful. When you all came to my home, my daughter had just gotten out of the hospital from having complications with diabetes. She was 2 years old and had been diagnosed that April. That year, she was hospitalized 10 times. I had just gotten divorced the year before and we were having to go through a lot of court hearings. We had over a year of hearings and during the time that you came to my house, I had not told many people about my daughter being sick. I am sure you don't remember me or my family but I wanted to let you know how sorry I am for being so bad at accepting the money. I'm sorry you coming to my home did not make a very good story. I had just had cancer removed right before my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. There was so much going on, and I am sorry I didn't do well. I had seven kids at home at the time and was so overwhelmed and didn't know what to do or just what I dared say when you came to my door. Just so you know, that money was a huge blessing. I am still single and have raised the kids all alone. It's been a long, rough road. There are now two left at home. Two are married, two grandkids, and two are on missions. One just graduated. My youngest, the diabetic, still has complications a few times a year, but she is so strong and fights through it all. Again, thank you for choosing to help out a single mom.
Secret Santa asked us if we could visit Lori again to see how she's doing and drop off another Christmas gift. Watch the surprise in the video player above!
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I hope one day we get to know the identity of Secret Santa before, or, after they depart this world. They need to be honored!
I bet he is a Mormon doing his good deeds here on earth.
We really dont need to know. He or she will move on into the after life. Hopefully God will let us know when we get there who he or she was. Im not being mean about it but do we really need to know. I enjoy these videos like praying in church. Nothing feels better.
Yes, they do!
@@essyjae Im not a local but I watch how white people live and try to mimic it. If I told that what do you think i am????? Not being nasty or mean but I see things I would love to mimic from police getting involved in a son or daughter coming home from war torn countries to engagements. To be truthfully honest i would love a half acre for my dogs and move out of sight. I love animals. Humans are destructive.
It's Nate❤❤
Wow, an amazing lady. Nine years later, she's not only a survivor, she's a success despite all odds.
The fact she felt bad this entire time is heartbreaking, but it’s nice she explained. Hopefully this will help people not judge the reactions of those who receive the secret Santa gifts going forward. And who cannot cry by watching how much of a difference this Secret Santa has made in so many families lives? Especially this one. ❤❤❤ What a deserving mom. Thank you Secret Santa.
She worked hard to raise seven children all alone. I'm so glad Secret Santa gave her another gift she needs it.
The Secret Santa is the series I look forward to all year. The gifts are incredible, but what is more important, we look inside the lives of the recipients and get to see their courage, stoicism, kindnesses, fears, and finally their joy at being recognised and their struggles understood. This is pure magic.
She didn’t do anything wrong the first time. She said, “Thank you.”. That’s all she needed to do. I’m happy for her and her family and I’m glad she was chosen a second time. ❤
She spent the 2k for necessities and can tell that it was the best thing that could have happened at the time.
She is special.
What a sweetheart, she has no reason to be sorry or embarrassed.
My god what a life... I remember that story
Thank you for helping her out 9 years ago and now. Bless you all.
Women like her are the real heroes of society
Nate was awesome in how he reassured this sweet lady that her genuine response 9 years ago - in the midst of all she was going through - was perfectly Ok and that she had no reason to apologise for anything. And for Secret Santa to so generously provide her with this additional gift makes her story all the more compelling! God bless Secret Santa, Nate and his team, and this wonderful lady and her family!
This was a great Secret Santa video, even a trip back in time. Thank you Secret Santa for changing the lives of so many deserving people. Such a beautiful family.
What a testament to courage. Raising 7 children all on her own. Blessings.
First of all, a LOT of the Secret Santa recipients are stunned and don't know how to react. Many seem just shocked. Secondly, who on earth can't understand all that she was dealing with and the stress level being over the roof? I'm a cancer survivor myself, and that's enough to deal with of itself. I'm so happy for her for this 2nd Secret Santa surprise visit !!! Lots of answered prayers!
It's incredible that a single mom was able to get her boys off on a mission. Job well done, Mom!
Just the other day I was thinking "Secret Santa should be starting soon!" YAY!!
How cool is that, that knocked her socks off. Good job secret santa.
I love to cry happy tears. Being an empathetic person I feel too much. East Idaho News, Secret Santa, feel good Fridays.
Thank you.
So nice seeing older videos, and EIN reconnecting with some of the older gift recipients. Dont apologise mrs things like that would overwhelm most of us. But you had the strength to open the door that is enough sometimes. Sorry for my spelling swedish fan here.😂
Your spellings perfect
God Bless You Nate.
Wow. She has a beautiful family. And by all accounts, has raised them right all on her own. Strong woman. God Bless
I'm not crying!! Ok, I totally am. What a beautiful story and what an INCREDIBLE WOMAN!
Good morning from Ireland. Great to see everybody again in East Idaho and the peeps in the comments. ❤
Such a deserving woman - her humility is profound!
A person who takes and does things for others without the hoopla or fanfare is the definition of love !! He’s not seeking recognition all that he is seeking is to help others and change their lives !! Thank You Secret Santa for your amazing work helping those who desperately need it !!
Well done Secret Santa.
I believe this gal WILL pay it forward down the road.
East Idaho is fortunate to have Nate, EIN, Crew, Secret Santa 🎅
YoHoHo everyone.
She’s already started with such lovely and happy children
Secret Santa, EIN and all others valuable person precious work always and Love from Bharat (India) 🇮🇳
Let me tell you all what I think........ That has been weighing on her heart for nine years. For a momma with babies going on to their mission,, she looks really good but it was the weight she had to get off her shoulders. Love her and kisses and hugs and a Merry Christmas to her and her babies. I promise you it was the weight and nine years of it.
This just warmed my heart so much. I know this brave, hard-working Mom is deeply grateful for the gift. Her needs have been great and Secret Santa came to the rescue. Beautiful story. I look forward to these stories every year. God
Bless all of you and Secret Santa!
I was a full time single dad and do know the struggle. I will say - I saw an overwhelmed mom on the clip shown from several years ago. Love the pic that shows she has done a great job to raise her kids. Thanks for sharing.
This woman needs to know that NONE of us are here for the reaction. We are all here simply for the fact of watching people get help when they need it the most, and I think these videos are a huge encouragement to others to simply be kind, or perhaps go volunteer some time somewhere or help someone who needs it - just because
Yes, Virginia, there _is_ truth on the internet. 😄
What a beautiful family! Thank you for sharing her story from 9 years ago and now! Being a single mom is incredibly difficult. I wish her and her family nothing but the best!
Ok I'm crying !! Bless her heart ! Thank you so much Secret Santa, Nate and EIN! I watch every year !!
Thank you so much Secret Santa-I watch from all the way in Texas & this blesses me to be able to see people & families in need being blessed like this, so just know that not only are you blessing people in Idaho, you're also reaching all the way to Texas as well.
And Alabama ❤
And New Hampshire
This warms my ♥️!!!
So many people need a touch of kindness in these trying times!
Thanks for letting us see Secret Santa in action!!!🎅🏻
Thanks Secret Santa! 🎄❄⛄😊
What a wonderful woman! Still a single mom and pushing herself upward. I was tickled to pieces to hear her say she was a truck driver. Good for her.
East Idaho News Team and Secret Santa are pure Christmas Magic ❤️
its the most wonderful time of year, Secret Santa is back.
What a sweetheart !! its hard to say how people will react, they are in shock really and its hard to express yourself and for sure some realize after the fact that they didnt care for their response and its ok. No one is disappointed in their reactions thats not what its about but she is a gem for her to express her feelings over the gifts 9 yrs ago! Cheers young lady, Great work EIN! Wonderful
She looks very happy and in a good place.
So great secret santa has already started. Very early but i dont mind haha.
Awesome and thank you secret Santa
That was so nice of her to write that email but it’s true, everyone reacts differently. This was a great secret Santa story 🥲
What a happy, fun surprise for this beautiful and brave mom !! Well done, Secret Santa and EANews, you are lifting up so many people's hearts !!
Just awesome 👍🇦🇺🙏
Funny how just yesterday I was thinking: why does Nate not do the follow-ups? And boom, here it comes, so wonderful!
What a blessing to be able to be a secret Santa like this person! And what a blessing for these people who needed it to accept it from the secret Santa! Thank you Jesus, Amen!
Regardless of how all the different individuals react, I've never seen a EIN Secret Santa video that didn't touch my heart in a profound way. I love every single story. ❤🙏🖖
Besides the new stories I kept watching old videos and very often I wonder how some of the people/families went on after the received the blessings from Secret Santa. It’s wonderful to see how things turned around for this family!❤❤❤ Sending xoxox to Idaho from 🇨🇭
As always secret santa helps those that are in need, and really can appreciate the difference his gifts make. This was so humbling t-hear how so long ago he made such a difference in their lives. So sweet of him to help this special lady again …bless her and her family. ❤
Thanks y]Secret Santa, Nate and EIN. 🎅🏻🧑🏻🎄🤶🏻🎄🙏🏻❤️
I am sure Secret Santa is happy that the money made a big difference and helped her at a time of need and not so worried about whether "she reacted in the right way" to receiving it
Wow, one of the strongest moms out there and be able to take care of all the kids! God bless her and the family! And God bless Secret Santa and the entire crew!!
❤️❤️❤️
This is so heartwarming. I've seen all the Secret Santas over the years my eyes have leaked many times. Blessings from the UK to the team and those who receive the gifts. My favourite was the teacher with the dilapidated car, 😊x
Wonderful story.
Beautiful Follow-up and a Great Gesture from Secret Santa to Help this Family again. GOD Bless Secret Santa and this Deserving Mom and her Family. 👍🙏
God bless Secret Santa!
So glad she is doing well. Bus drivers move the most precious cargo for very little money. Her Class A CDL will provide much more for her family. It’s also good to see how much the quality of Secret Santa 🤶 videos have improved.
Such a sweet woman. Thank you for helping her and her family.
Watching this from western Canada, and it's so nice to see the generosity of those that can give. Many here are generous in many ways to children, but this is nice to see adults also benefiting the generosity given. Thanks to those taking the video's as well, and lastly a large thank you to the secret Santa's!
👍👍 thank you!
What an amazing young lady , so proud of you , take care , be safe , enjoy ! Memories !
Beautiful story. Thank you Secret Santa and EIN 🎅🎄❄️⛄️❤5
We understand nice lady, don’t worry. We know you have had to be tough💜
What a lovely lady - there was no need for her to feel bad as I saw nothing bad in her reaction on the first visit !
I'm so happy for this well deserving young lady.
I love Secret Santa ❤
Wow she so deserved it now!! Thank you Nate & Secret Santa❤❤ from me in Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape South Africa 🇿🇦
Thank you Secret Santa and thanks to Nate and his colleagues for being the elves bringing us the stories.
I love these good tears. Thank you all.
That was so heartwarming. What a deserving mom.❤
She is a great mom . Thanks Santa
Whom ever you are, thank you Secret Santa for helping families in Idaho! And thank you Nate, and crew for sharing their stories.
I always love Secret Santa. I even binge previous years. We live in Utah. I became a single Mom of 9 children and I would tell the kids we wouldn't have much of a Christmas and somehow be aise of others blessing us we had great Christmases.
It doesnt feel like the run up to Xmas unless I see one of these videos each morning. Thank you Secret Santa!
May God continue to bless secret santa.I can literally hear those nail scarred hands clapping as your blessings are revealed .
I LOVE THIS!!! Nate, you guys are off the charts and whoever this Secret Santa is he is…gosh, beyond words. God Bless all of you. 🙏❤️🥰
I love this so much for her and her family! 🥰
Nate, pre-Christmas hat! What another wonderful story. Looking forward to crying with joy and empathy for the next 2 months.
I LOVE these segments. To see people receive a blessing to get them through the stress of the holidays is such a joy to watch.
I look forward to Secret Santa every year now! ❤ Thank you Secret Santa for blessing so many in need! You are a true angel.
I too was a single mother of 7. Life has not been easy. I did it alone for 13 yrs never getting help from government. I left a very abusive marriage also. I then met my husband. He was the person I was looking for. Life was perfect. Then 2019 found out he had throat cancer 😢 Things were hard. I took care of him for 2 years. He lost his fight July 2021. Life for me is a struggle again. I had to go back to work as my widows pay was taken away and seems no one can figure it out. Its been a year now. I am disabled myself but i HAVE to work. My house payments are behind. My body hurts. My youngest is almost 17 but he is autistic and unable to work. I also have custody of my 34 yr old nephew with downs. Life has not been easy for us but I get up everyday and try and get through the day. Thank you secret Santa for all you do. ❤❤❤
I hope you are relying upon God for strength to get you through 🙌
I'll be praying for you 🙏💙🙏
Nate, I am in eastern Oregon. We have nothing like you here. You and your team are so inspiring. I follow all your stories but Secret Santa is my favorite. Very heartwarming, and I usually end up crying. Thank you for your team and your style of journalism and reporting. A man with true integrity.
Watching "Secret Santa" videos on the East Idaho News TH-cam channel has become a holiday tradition for me for the past 3 years. I'm not from Idaho, nor do I live in the state, but the spirit of giving and joy (plus a little sneaking) really inspired me. I've since taken part in an online mystery Santa gift exchange on a chat site mainly designed for people who are blind or visual impaired. The major difference is that I need to cap my gift (s) around a given amount, but the joy felt by the recipients over the past couple of years has been the same, and I love it very much. Thank you for inspiring me to participate in this myself in a unique way and feeling the kindness and joy during the holiday season. Blessings and keep spreading good where you are, Nate and team and everyone!!!
Nate you and your team have the best job. Love your videos and the joy you're able to bring to people.
What a beautiful woman and family . Thank you secret Santa for the amazing work you do for people , you are an amazing individual ! I love the happy tears these stories create , it fills my heart .
That made me cry. God bless her and God bless Secret Santa. ❤❤❤
I love this story SO much. Her family is beautiful.
He helps those who are really trying to make it on their own. Making their lives better. Thanks to secret Santa, for his life changing help to those struggling.
Wow, each and every recipient so deserves the gifts they receive. They all make me cry for different stories. Secret Santa you are one special person. Thank you for helping so many in need.
I hope that secret Santa knows how much he inspires countless people. I don’t think he knows. But his generosity is far-reaching.
Thank you Secret Santa! Love from Norway💞
Nate, what a way to start off the year! I was a single mother for 13 years, this touch me...I am still crying while typing. I married a second time at 39 and had two more girls, in my 40's. When I am 60, my youngest will be 18, in two years. I never took child support, ever...I have a report from the State that says $0.00. I need not explain, just this is huge, what you do. I now farm 20 acres and am truly blessed. I always say 'why do I need all this, I do not do it for me' and that is the Truth. Many Blessings to You and Yours, Secret Santa, Thank You... For Giving Joy and Means when the world can be so empty. Good Works!
That mama is my hero. 🎉❤
Her family is beautiful ❤️❤️❤️ God bless you all even the ones reading this.
Merry Christmas!!!
These videos are East Idaho News and Secret Santa’s gift to the 🌎 world ❤️
Awww. What an incredible woman. Thanks for the follow up Nate. God bless you all and especially Secret Santa.
Every year I say this and every year I mean it: I will someday do what secret Santa does in my own community.
You deserve it