Eastern Idaho’s Secret Santa is at it again, this time blessing a young mother fighting cancer. Nate Eaton, along with his cameraman Jordan Wood, act as Santa’s elves and deliver gifts for a local Santa every day between now and Christmas. On this day, they are in cold Teton, Idaho, surprising Rachael.
When Rachael went in for a checkup in May, her doctor noticed something unusual in her blood tests. Upon further investigation, they discovered that Rachael had developed acute leukemia. Following an emergency visit to a specialist in Salt Lake, Rachael spent nearly six weeks in the hospital. Though Rachael has been discharged, she now continues regular, aggressive treatments closer to home.
Moving forward, the young woman will have several spinal taps and other tests, and she will take expensive cancer-fighting medications following the completion of her chemotherapy. Rachael has a long road ahead of her. She’s the momma of two young children, and one of them has special needs. Rachael is described as a “sweet and simple person who has always done the best she can with the resources and support she gets,” and the region’s anonymous Santa wants to provide just that.
With $10,000 worth of gift cards and checks, Nate heads for the door to meet Rachael. While Rachael appears a little uncertain at first, she opens the screen door between her and Nate in mere seconds. She wears the bandages, tubes, and PICC lines of a courageous cancer-fighting person and a t-shirt that says she’s “more powerful” than a superhero. Offering a beautiful, bright smile, she tells Nate that she’s doing good and feeling generally alright.
Nate explains the purpose of his visit. She’s been at an appointment, but he’s arranged a ruse with her friend in order to catch Rachael at home when he arrives. Nate gives Rachael the boxes he’s brought, and she opens the first one. It’s full of $250 gift cards to Kohls and grocery stores! Next, she opens a box with gift cards to Lowe’s—she can purchase the new washer and dryer that she will soon need. Rachael is giddy with excitement. She giggles in delight, aware of the fact that Christmas has certainly come early for her and her family!
Nate hands Rachael a final box. This one has a check for $5,000 in it; the money is for any other expenses they may be facing. The gift overwhelms Rachael. She holds her hand over her mouth in shock, and her laughter turns to happy tears. Rachael says, “That’s so kind! Thank you—oh, my gosh—to whomever did this. Oh, my gosh! Oh, thank you so much.”
With well wishes on her health journey and greetings for her husband, Nate bids farewell. What a fun job he and Jordan have! They will keep busy this season, delivering Secret Santa’s gifts. Eastern Idaho’s man in red plans to give $1,000,000 to deserving folks in the area!
“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” Proverbs 22:9