DENVER - After 9NEWS reported about a family that was victimized by a Grinch just before Christmas, we were stunned by the generosity of our viewers.
Saturday morning, 9NEWS delivered gifts from viewers to Stephanie Tapia, and her fiancé Chris Madrid.
On Tuesday, thieves broke into their West Denver home and stole their Christmas gifts and valuables.
"They ruined our Christmas," burglary victim Stephanie Tapia said on Friday. "They ruined everything."
But thanks to 9NEWS viewers, Tapia and Madrid can provide Christmas to their two sons Frankie and Josiah for years to come.
"It's a blessing, truly," Madrid said. "I mean, that's the only way I can describe it."
"I'm lost at words," Tapia said.
Tapia and Madrid had just paid for their two kids' gifts on layaway, and brought the gifts home Monday night. She and her family came home Tuesday to find the damage from the burglary.
To add to the stress, Tapia is pregnant, and Madrid's son, Josiah, has leukemia.
"We work too hard and try too hard to just have someone come in and take stuff from us," Madrid said Friday.
After hearing the story on 9NEWS on Friday afternoon, we were overwhelmed by the response. Dozens of people called offering to bring by presents or give the family monetary donations.
"I was worried that Christmas would be a time where we would resent it," Madrid said. "You guys saved our holiday. You made it official again."
"I mean this makes me realize, when we are able to, we have to give back," he said.
(KUSA-TV © 2011 Multimedia Holdings Corporation)