Dakota Nelson and his wife Ream were having a fun afternoon together in their garage. They were laughing and enjoying a family project together. It was a normal day like any other, until Dakota left for a few minutes to find another tool. When he returned, he found his beloved wife unconscious. Her face was blue and she wasn’t breathing.

Dakota desperately applied CPR while his 11-year-old boy called 911 for help. By the time she received treatment from first responders, Ream’s brain had gone nearly 20 minutes without oxygen. She spent several weeks in a coma before passing away at the age of 38. Doctors still do not know the exact cause of death.

Now a widower, Dakota found himself raising seven children alone. His kids range in age from 1 to 16-years-old. Dakota took on 3 part-time jobs to cover his family’s financial needs.

Once news of Dakota’s situation spread, an anonymous donor decided to spread some holiday cheer and found a way to donate $10,000 to the Nelson family.