Loving Mother's Surprise Of A Lifetime

Week Of Wishes Brings Tears Of Joy To Wisconsin Family

(CBS)  Several times a year, The Early Show reaches out to some special viewers, helping their dreams come true. This time around, the broadcast is dedicating its Week of Wishes to some of the hardest-working people around: mothers.

Starting off this week's series, The Early Show national correspondent Tracy Smith brought tears of joy to a Wisconsin mom who keeps her family together no matter how far apart they are.

It all started with a letter from Manju Goel, writing on behalf of her mother, Sheila.

I was watching The Early Show this morning, as all mornings, and heard about the upcoming Week of Wishes. I immediately thought of my mom, who turned 65 last month. She has always wanted a big surprise birthday party, and I have been unable to plan it. … My mother Sheila Goel has always been there for me and my three siblings her whole life. We moved from India about 35 years ago, and I don't know how she managed with three young kids at that time. She learned to speak the language, to drive, and held down two jobs initially. … Over the past five years, she's developed multiple health problems and has had to significantly slow down. She still loves to socialize and be around family and friends. … I have never been able to manage a surprise party for her because I live out of town and I'm working as well as going to law school part time. I know that my mom will treasure the memory of a surprise party with many of her friends and family for the rest of her life.

Sheila Goel turns out to be the very picture of motherly love. "She is the pillar of the family and she kept all of us together in such a nice way," said her husband, Vipin Goel.

And it was not an easy feat. Goel emigrated from India to America, mastered a foreign language and learned a new land — all the while serving as the force that keeps her four children, her grandchild, and her husband, strong, secure, and, even though they are spread out across the country, inseparable.

"I really don't think there is any secret. It's just I give them moral support," she told Smith.

So The Early Show decided to give Sheila Goel and her family some moral support, in the form of a big surprise birthday party. Hosted at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., with big band music courtesy of All That Jazz, a loving crowd of friends and family gathered to greet Goel with the party of a lifetime (video).

Smith even had a special surprise for Manju, a donation of nursery furniture from Babies R Us, for the baby girl she is in the process of adopting from India.

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Products and services for Week of Wishes were supplied by the following providers:

Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center

Monona Catering

Gatherings Home & Garden

BBJ Linen

All That Jazz

Orbitz

Days Inn

Sam’s Club

Babies R Us