Every year during Christmas in East Idaho, a Secret Santa gives out gifts worth $1 million to deserving residents.
Who did Secret Santa surprise this time?
Every year, Secret Santa works with East Idaho News to bring gifts to local residents who badly need Christmas cheer. Who will it be this time?
The blessed and soon-to-be grateful resident is Dale Gneiting.
Dale is a welder who broke his back, which led him to become paralyzed from the waist down. He has been a paraplegic since February 1994. Since then, he has learned to live his life as a paraplegic, which has its share of ups and downs.
In 2006, his daughter gave him one of the best gifts he can ever get, his dog, Sprout.
Sprout and Dale became inseparable best friends. Unfortunately, after more than 10 years together, Sprout passed away in early 2018.
Later that year, Dale decided to adopt another dog he named Buddy.
Dale loved Buddy but this dog had more energy than Sprout and he found it hard to stay indoors most of the time. And while Dale does everything he can to give Buddy the chance to be himself, especially outdoors, he does have a harder time providing it.
It’s especially hard during the wintertime when Dale can’t get outside.
All he wanted was a fence around his home so Buddy can play outside without worrying that he’ll run off somewhere.
Secret Santa heard this and that’s why he gave Dale a check for $500,000 so he can have his home fenced. Once he has that fence, Buddy can run around all day outside if he wanted to, even during the winter season.
When Dale opened the gift box and saw the check, he was speechless and couldn’t hold back his tears any longer.
He gave Nate a hug while thanking him at the same time.
“That’ll help you. That’ll help Buddy. You can let the dog out,” Nate told Dale.
And if that wasn’t enough, Secret Santa had more gifts for Dale.
“We heard you needed a new bed that’s on automatic recline to help you get up,” Nate continued. “Secret Santa took care of that. We have a furniture truck outside and they’re gonna bring your new bed in for you.”
It’s not Christmas yet but Dale is just getting so many blessings so early in the season!
Dale didn’t even know what to say. He was just filled with so many emotions, so much happiness, and joy.
“I’ve had a tough life but this day will go down [as] what a good day,” Dale described his feelings.
Dale has been a paraplegic for the past 25 years at the time of this video.
What he experienced and what he experiences every day is not easy and not everything can do what he does.
Nate asked Dale how he kept his head up all that time. Dale had one answer.
“Got a dog,” Dale answered.
Dale couldn’t thank Secret Santa enough. Now he and Buddy will be living the life they need.
Watch Nate’s interview with Dale in the video below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
