PORT ANGELES — Nikki Kovatch Morris has experienced her own Christmas miracle.
Morris, 30, faced tragedy twice recently after her fiance died in a car wreck Dec. 17, and her home was burglarized the following day.
Taken from the home were jewelry, video games and presents, including a gift from her fiance, Bryan Casey Hughes.
But today, when her three young children wake up, they will not be disappointed.
Morris said she has since received about 50 gifts — roughly 10 times as many as were stolen — from people responding to her time of need.
“I’m so overwhelmed with gratitude,” she said Friday.
“For as hard as these last few days have been . . . I was kind of losing faith in humanity.
“But it has really been restored by all the outpouring of support, even the words of kindness from people I don’t even know.”
While there will be plenty under the tree for her kids, ages 1, 7 and 9, Morris has one gift she will cherish among all others: the diamond bracelet Hughes, who was killed when his van fell to the bottom of a gravel pit off Mount Angeles Road, bought for her for Christmas.
The bracelet was one of the gifts stolen, but Morris, who didn’t know what was inside the box shipped through FedEx, was able to track the order back to the Zales diamond company.
After hearing about her loss, she said the company agreed to send her another bracelet at no charge.
“It means everything to me to have that,” Morris said.
She said she will probably save some of the gifts for future birthdays and holidays, and hopes to be able to “pay it forward.”
“I just want everyone in the community to know that all the acts of kindness, words and otherwise are appreciated beyond expression,” Morris said.
“I can’t even put into words how grateful I am and how good it makes me feel in an awful time.”
An account to accept donations was set up for the family at First Federal. She said she not checked to see how much had been received.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
