Dad undergoing chemotherapy expected a lonely birthday — until an anonymous gift delivered the surprise of a lifetime
'When I look at Kingston, I often think of how selfless you had to be with me to raise a little human.'
The greatest gift you can ever give to someone is your time and presence. A man named Blake McGrath (@blakemcgrath) decided to do just that, along with his sister, Meaghan, to surprise their dad for his birthday. In a post shared on their Instagram page, the man revealed a memory from a few years ago. His father was diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy. His birthday was approaching, and with the kids away from home, he thought he’d be spending the day alone in Toronto. To his surprise, his son and daughter showed up most spectacularly, wrapped with love, and his reaction is everything. Blake lost his dad five years ago, but revisiting this moment is soothing in its own way.
The video captured Blake speaking to his dad as he normally would, except he and his sister had something cooking. He let him know he had sent him something and asked him to have a look at it. Standing there, right on cue, was a huge box, gift-wrapped and adorned with balloons. The dad arrived to open it, and as he undid the wrapping on the top and opened the flap, he saw his entire world — Meaghan and Blake sitting inside. They immediately yelled, “Surprise! Happy Birthday.” Out of shock, he quickly moved away, overwhelmed by emotions. He was quickly reunited with his kids, with the warmest hugs.
“This will forever be one of my greatest memories with my Papa. He was truly the most remarkable man, with the biggest heart, and taught me the power of a quick ‘I’m sorry,’” Blake wrote. He shared how being a dad made him realize how much his own father did for him. “When I look at Kingston, I often think of how selfless you had to be with me to raise a little human,” he said. Marking five years since his passing, the son noted that he couldn’t wait to see his papa once again. Cancer has increasingly been taking the lives of loved ones in the blink of an eye.
Heartbreaking statistics from Wiley revealed that it is the second-leading cause of death in the United States. The estimated number of new cancer cases for the year 2026 alone was reported to be 2,114,850. This is equivalent to approximately 5,800 cases per day. And there are so many other ways that we can lose our loved ones just like that. If there’s any takeaway from this, it is to show up and be present while we still have the time — that’s the greatest gift in itself. A study was conducted on adult mentors and the youth they provided guidance to. Although their leadership and encouragement paved the way for the budding youth, showing up had a lot of benefits for the mentors, too.
Along with boosting mental and emotional health, working with the youth and being there for them “inspired” many. The study powerfully noted that their presence for the youth helped them feel more “connected to a community and their sense of purpose, and engaged in creative activities that nurtured their sense of self and left them feeling more empowered.” One can only imagine how much more the case is for loved ones. @beccalynnlocke said, “As a parent, there is literally nothing more special or meaningful than being able to spend time with your kids. I’m certain this made his heart sing.” @robynfilmchic added, “Best present ever is being present.”
You can follow Blake McGrath (@blakemcgrath) on Instagram for more content on family and relationships.
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