Alvarez, Felicia from the hospital, and two friends from school.

Lena stopped by briefly with an age-appropriate book about emergency responders.

Hector, the dispatcher, had sent a card signed by the entire overnight team.

It said: You were brave enough to ask for help.

We hope this year is full of happy surprises.

Eli placed the card beside his dinosaur cake.

The frosting was blue, as requested, and slightly uneven where Teresa had struggled to smooth it with a spatula.

“I like that part,” he told her, pointing to a crooked ridge.