Christmas Miracle: Volunteers Step In To Help COVID-19 Survivor Keep Festive Lighting Tradition

An Iowa man and his wife put up festive lights and holiday decorations to raise money for food banks every year. The tradition, which has become a ritualistic adventure for the neighborhood, was on the verge of being canceled after the man fell severely ill. But then some volunteers performed a Christmas miracle.

People from all over Des Moines, Iowa, come to see Dale and Julie Marks' decorations each year. However, this year has been a difficult time for them. Dale had two strokes and a heart attack while suffering from COVID-19. For the first time, they were worried about pulling off the tradition.

"Dale decorates and puts all the lights up - I do the small things, he does the big things - and I knew there was no way that I could do it," Julie told CNN. "He started talking about it and I was pretty sure it was impossible."

Then the community stepped in.

Bob Coffey, a local contractor heard about the pair's situation from a mutual friend and decided to help. He remembers driving through the neighborhood to see the lights, and according to him, it's an important tradition.

Coffey and four of his employees dropped by the couple's hope Monday and decorated it for free, while Dale sat on the porch.

"It makes me feel good that we can do it for him, but it makes me feel sad that he's in that condition," Coffey said as per WAFB.

The couple contracted COVID-19 in mid-September. While Julie recovered, Dale's sickness got severe. He even collapsed one day due to strokes and was taken to a hospital. Later, he suffered from a heart attack.

During his 28 days of stay in the hospital, a determined Dale planned to put up the decoration.

"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," he told KCCI.

Now Dale and Julie are looking forward to a parade of vehicles that drive through their neighborhood to look at the decorations.

Last holiday season, the couple used the opportunity to raise funds for the Food Bank of Iowa. Dale collected donations and handed out candy canes to people. In the end, they were able to give 1,500 pounds of food and more than $7,500 to their chosen beneficiary.

This year, Dale plans to just watch the passing cars from his window. Meanwhile, Julie is hopeful that this year's food drive will bring in more donations.