The road to recovery has been difficult for the Peoria firefighter, so the 100 Club of Arizona and VIP Mortgage teamed up to make Christmas merry for Lopez, his wife and seven children, according to KNXV.
“(Lopez is) our hero,” Santa told the children.
Santa, Elves, VIP Mortgage and The 100 Club bring dozens of presents to the Lopez family for Xmas. Justin Lopez was badly injured in a battery fire at an APS substation earlier this year. He just returned to light duty. #Fox10Phoenix pic.twitter.com/V88CTAhCxj
— Brian Webb (@BWebbFox10) December 20, 2019
The two organizations annually team up to surprise a deserving first responder with a visit from Santa and his elves, KTVK reported.
“Everyone is progressing faster than anticipated. Everyone has ups and downs, but everyone (is) pretty happy with just being alive,” Lopez told the television station.
"I think you're stronger than you think you are," Lopez's wife, Sarah Lopez, told KNXV. "The community has been amazing. They all rally around us. This is another showing of how good our community is."
The Lopez family is grateful for the gifts, but are more thankful Justin Lopez is recovering.
"All things considered, I feel great and fortunate and blessed to be here today and not the other way around," Justin Lopez told KNXV.
“I think everything now has new meaning,” Sarah Lopez told the television station. “We don’t take life for granted, even him being at a recital or Thanksgiving. It’s amazing he’s here, and we appreciate it 10 times more.”
The children are grateful, too.
"I think it's important, 'cause this could have been different and we get my dad this Christmas. We could have not had my dad this Christmas, so that means a lot," daughter Aidann Lopez told KSAZ.
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