Anonymous donor makes family's Christmas merry

MOSES LAKE — Someone brought Eva Major out of depression. She wants to thank them, but she doesn't know who they are.

Major, 42, of Moses Lake, was diagnosed with a rare large cell cancer in August. Days before Christmas, a stranger left bags of food and gifts on her porch. There were gifts for her, her husband and her three daughters.

"This is something you only see on TV," Eva said.

"On a lifetime Christmas special," added daughter Tabitha Jaques, 22.

The family was eating a Christmas dinner provided by the Moses Lake Cancer Foundation on Dec. 22. When the doorbell rang, Eva Major's husband Eric Major answered the door to find the porch filled with boxes. A white Lexus SUV disappeared from view.

"Whoa, whoa, Eva, Eva, you better come see this," Eric Major said to his wife.

Someone delivered a $75 Safeway gift card, boxes of food including pies, yams and Black Forest ham, and clothing for everyone. Her daughter Reyna Major, 5, received several outfits, a book, a horse with a doll and a pink cowgirl hat.

The family was in tears.

"I think I even cried," Eric Major said.

Eva Major wanted the anonymous donor to know the Christmas was the best she has had. Her family was in financial trouble during the holidays and didn't have a lot to spend.

"There's no words to express my thanks, none at all," Eva Major said.

Eva Major is in stage four of an aggressive cancer, a type she said makes up just 5 percent of cancer diagnoses. Two months after Eva Major was diagnosed with cancer, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Doctors told Eva Major her cancer has a 40 percent chance of remission and a 60 percent chance of responding to chemotherapy. In her case, the cancer is responding to chemotherapy and is currently confined to the lymph nodes. Even though doctors told her there is no cure, Eva Major is determined to live another 10 years.

"I want 10 years, so I'm not going to stop until I get my 10 years," she said.

Before the donation, Major was depressed. Since the donation, she is a bit happier.

Her family was chosen for adoption through the Moses Lake Clinic oncology department. Her mother was notified about someone's desire to donate to the family and filled out a form with information about each family member. A week before the Dec. 22 surprise, the same stranger sent a cleaning service to her home.

She hopes the donor comes forward so she can deliver them a big hug.

"Basically their love was the best gift of all," she said. "Just showing love to someone you don't know, it lets you know that there is still good out there."