A local Secret Santa is donating $1 million to people in need in eastern Idaho this holiday season, and the East Idaho News elves are helping.

From now until the end of the year, we’re releasing a Secret Santa surprise every day, and today we’re surprising an incredible mom who’s been through a lot over the last few years.

Shauna is the wife of a potato farmer and mother of three young children. She was given a difficult situation, but she handled her circumstances with humility, courage and a positive attitude.

Shauna and her three children were hit from behind at a traffic light three years ago. Although her children were in the back seat, they were unharmed by the blow. Shauna, who was driving, wasn’t so lucky. Shauna was flown to the University of Utah and remained paralyzed.

Before the accident, Shauna was an active young mother – she hiked with her daughter, took children to Heise for family swimming, actively ran with children in all directions, rode in tractors, camped, rode in an all-terrain vehicle and worked as a surgical technician. The physical limitations that prevented her from returning to work as a cleaner are nothing compared to the way she and her family have had to rebuild their lives.

Shauna couldn’t bathe her youngest because her wheelchair and bathtub didn’t fit in the bathroom of her house. Because of her top-loading washer and dryer, she is unable to do laundry unless her kindergartener is home, climbs onto her lap, stands on her legs, and reaches into the washer.

Instead of giving up and filing for disability, Shauna got a job and completed the paperwork. She deals with all these things in a friendly, calm and quiet way.

Secret Santa asked the East Idaho News elves to surprise Shauna with an early Christmas present. Watch the video in the player above!