Life is both so resilient and fragile and one never knows the time of one’s passing.

And the following story proves that you should show your love whenever you’re given the chance because next thing you know, your loved one may be gone.

Former Hollywood set designer Jeffrey Michaels, 51, built a massive red sleigh for his mother that Santa Claus would be proud and he did it just because she loved Christmas so much. And 80-year-old Rita Ruffner was indeed overjoyed with the gift but sadly passed away two weeks later due to a heart attack.

Watch to learn more of the story below!

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Now, the sleigh has taken even more significance for the family.

Jeffrey, from Las Vegas, said: “Something special happened with the sleigh itself after we lost my mother.

“It has taken on its own identity. It is still sitting in the front yard of the house and people come by to have their pictures taken with it.

“One of the things my mother wanted was for families to take pictures in the sleigh.”

Rita loved Christmas so much that she had holiday decor in her home throughout the year.

“Christmas was her best holiday,” Jeffrey said. “It was an all-year-round thing for her.

“She kept up her holiday decorations and listened to Christmas music all-year-round. She watched Christmas movies no matter the season.”

In order to surprise her, Jeffrey secretly traveled to Pennsylvania where she lived and used her garage as a carpenter’s workshop.

He said: “I built it in her garage. She had no idea I was even in town. I was staying at my sister’s house and working in my mother’s garage.

“It was a real labor of love. The sleigh is made out of birch. I drew the design on the wood and cut it out.

“It is painted red and gold. The sleigh itself is 8ft by 4ft. It is a two-person sleigh. The materials cost me around $300.”

Based on Jeffrey’s concept, reindeers would pull the sleigh when it’s Christmas but will be pulled by horses for the rest of the year.

They threw a surprise party for Rita on October 26, her 80th birthday, and Jeffrey unveiled his surprise to her on her front yard.

He said: “I put it in the front yard for her and told her to come outside. She was shocked and ecstatic. She was so proud of it – she called everyone to tell them about her sleigh.”

After she passed away two weeks later, her family adorned her casket with snowmen to honor her love of Christmas.

Jeffrey feels he was meant to build her the sleigh before her passing.

He said: “She had been talking about a sleigh for the past few years and this year I had the time to go home and build it. I’m so glad she saw it before she was gone.”

Jeffrey also hopes that people who come to see Rita’s sleigh would consider donating to the American Heart Association in honor of his mother.

 

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