Got a tissue handy?
Outside Des Moines Iowa, Dale Marks puts up an elaborate lights display every year to help raise moeny for the local food bank.
But this year Dale was too weak. He contracted Covid which led to two strokes and a heart attack. But he felt horrible that he couldn't have his lights display and help the food bank. "It's a miracle that I am alive," said Marks.
Still determined to carry on the Christmas light tradition to feed the hungry, Marks told his wife Julie they needed to hire someone to put up their lights this year.
"I laid in the hospital for 28 days not knowing if I was going to survive, and I knew, I knew, that I need to carry on if I at all could. If at all possible, if I have a last breath there is something that God has for me to do to help others," said Marks.
Bob Coffey, a Des Moines businessman, heard Marks' story from a friend and wanted to help. So Coffey brought a group of volunteers to Marks' home to install thousands of lights.
"It makes me feel good that we can do it for him, but it makes me feel sad that he's in that condition because this is what he wants to do," said Coffey.
Marks watched as volunteers finished the job in four hours. Tears streamed from his face as he viewed the finished spectacle.
Watch the video here:
Volunteers help Iowa man keep Christmas lighting tradition (kcci.com)