We landed a helicopter in this young mom’s yard to deliver a much-needed surprise from Secret Santa
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A local Secret Santa is giving $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season and the East Idaho News elves are helping out.
Every day, from now until the end of the year, we’ll be posting a Secret Santa surprise, and today, we are going to Challis for the first time to deliver a gift to a very deserving young mom.
Brooke has had an incredibly challenging few months. The year began wonderfully for her and her husband Jacob as they welcomed their second child in June.
Soon after that, Jacob began experiencing some symptoms that could no longer be overlooked. It started with dizziness, weakness, and issues with depth perception. He wasn’t his normal self and that interfered with his ability to care for his family.
Jacob was the pillar of health before he got sick and everyone assumed it would quickly pass.
In early July, he was admitted to EIRMC and shortly after that, he was transferred to the University of Utah Hospital. There were lots of tests, scans and every possible diagnosis. Unfortunately, the only answer doctors have is that Jacob has encephalitis, or swelling on the brain.
He has been on a feeding tube and a ventilator, has had repeat infections, and has been transferred from different hospitals and facilities in eastern Idaho, Utah, and Boise, where he is currently.
Brooke and the kids try to visit Jacob a few days a week but she has to work from home the other days and she does not have a reliable vehicle to get her and the family back and forth.
Secret Santa asked the East Idaho News elves to visit Brooke and we arranged a special ride in the East Idaho News Chopper to make sure the gift got to her faster! Check out the video in the player above.
