After near-fatal motorcycle crash, young dad receives heartfelt gift from a Secret Santa
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A local Secret Santa is giving $1 million to deserving people in eastern Idaho this holiday season. Every day, from now until the end of the year, the East Idaho News elves will be delivering gifts from Secret Santa and we’ll be sharing the surprise videos here.
Josh’s life changed in an instant this September when a devastating motorcycle crash left him with catastrophic injuries. He arrived at the hospital with a fractured skull, a subarachnoid brain bleed, and a large portion of his scalp torn away. Doctors warned his family multiple times to prepare for the worst.
For weeks, Josh lay in the ICU on a ventilator, heavily sedated and unable to speak or move. His family stayed by his side through every surgery, setback, and sleepless night, unsure if he would ever wake up.
But against overwhelming odds, he did.
As Josh slowly regained consciousness, he faced the daunting task of relearning nearly everything — how to sit up, swallow, speak, walk, climb stairs, and think clearly. When he arrived at the University of Utah rehab center, he was still recovering from severe brain trauma and exhaustion. Yet he showed up for every therapy session with determination, pushing through pain and frustration to reclaim his life.
Therapists say his progress was nothing short of remarkable. In just weeks, Josh went from needing significant assistance to walking independently through the halls, refusing to quit even when therapy grew difficult.
Now home and continuing outpatient therapy, Josh recently underwent another major surgery to close the remaining area on his scalp. Through trauma, grief, and months of grueling recovery, he has shown a strength and resilience that have inspired everyone around him.
Josh is a devoted father, a loving partner, and a survivor who has fought hard for every step of recovery — and now, a Secret Santa has asked the East Idaho News elves to pay him a visit with an early Christmas gift. Check out the surprise in the video player above!
