Patricia Grisafi
With special events like birthdays, weddings, and holidays being effectively canceled due to COVID-19 concerns, there are a lot of disappointed folks out there. We’re all trying, but is a virtual party as good? Definitely not.
That’s what Tim and Robin Lim-Healy were dealing with when they had to cancel their son Kieran’s birthday trip to Legoland in Southern California and plan a Zoom party instead. Then the San Francisco Fire Department stepped in with a special surprise for the ten-year-old.
On Tuesday, a paramedic unit from the SSFD brought department vehicles and a fire truck right to Kieran’s home as a surprise. Then, they extended the truck’s ladder to 110 feet and delivered presents to Kieran—while observing protocol and wearing masks, of course.
The visit was made possible because family friend Carla Beyer works with the SFFD. She was able to help arrange the surprise visit for Kieran.
“When members of #SFFDFS15 learned that 10 YO Keiran’s [sic] birthday was going to be held virtually, they wanted to make it a bit more memorable,” the department said.
“We started out this morning with a virtual zoom birthday party with some of his classmates calling in,” Tim said of his son’s day. “It will be a great way to look back and remember his birthday. It’s actually a bit more special than a regular birthday.”