Firefighters Save Christmas For Stroke Victim's Family

CHICAGO (CBS) -- This summer, Dani Price had a stroke. The firefighters and paramedics in her South Lawndale community showed up at her home immediately to help.

On Friday, they gave Price and her family assistance of a different kind. CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports.

Price not only suffered her second stroke but also lost her banking job last year.

Her daughter, 9-year-old Cheyenne Price, wanted to make a difference in her family's life. She wrote to her local fire department, and firefighters from Engine Co. No. 38 and Truck 48 answered.

"I wrote that my mom had two strokes and my nieces and nephews and nephews, they didn't have anything to play with," the girl says.

The firefighters all pitched in.  They bought enough gifts to fill three boxes for Cheyenne's sisters, brother, nieces and nephews and Cheyenne, too.

"She didn't mention anything for herself, she just wanted her mother to have a blessed Christmas," Chicago Fire Dept. Lt. Marcus Demus says. "Imagine that, from a 9-year-old?"

Tears of joy continued flowing outside Dani Price's home, too. As she took pictures with the firefighters, she remembered Lt. Jake Jakeubec was among the first responders at her home this summer after she had a stroke.

"That's why it was special in our hearts to come here and make sure that her family gets taken care of because we're glad that she's around to take care of her family," Jakeubec says.

"Santa made a dream come true and a blessing, all in one," Price says.

Cheyenne says she prayed each night her letter would be answered. She says she now has faith that Santa cares about big kids, too.

The firefighters not only made Cheyenne's Christmas dreams come true, they raised more than $50,000 and gave it all to the Make A Wish Foundation to help kids in need.