Boy, 5, gets birthday party and gifts despite evacuating from fire
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada (WTXF/AP) - A boy's fifth birthday didn't fall at a convenient time but luckily, his milestone was saved a stranger.
Maddox's family had to evacuate their western Canada home because of devastating wildfires. His mother wrote on Facebook, "I am absolutely heartbroken he doesn't get to have the huge bouncy castle party we had planned for him."
His friends and whole class were expected.
His mother Corina Nolin wrote the hotel they were staying at "went above and beyond to bake a birthday cake, prepare appetizers, and also let us use a little area of the hotel to celebrate."
But Maddox's presents had been left behind at home. Mom explained how that was solved.
"Someone we have just met came and brought presents collected from her friends for him," she wrote. "You have to see the excitement and total disbelieve in my son's eyes when he saw his friends today."
As for returning home to the original gifts, cooler temperatures and light rain have officials optimistic they'll get a handle on a massive wildfire.