COAL TOWNSHIP -- A family in Northumberland County lost everything in a fire just weeks before Christmas, including medical equipment for their two youngest daughters.
That family made it out of their home safely but they had to leave everything they own behind.
And now, just weeks before Christmas, one daughter is asking, "what about Santa?" And the other children are missing their medical equipment.
Firefighters near Shamokin spent the morning putting out a fire at this home on West Spruce Street. The Coal Township fire chief believes it started in the back of the house, but does not know what caused it. A couple and their three daughters lived there.
Both of the children's grandmothers spoke with Newswatch 16. Trudy Hauer lives close by.
"I looked out my bedroom window and saw their house was on fire," Hauer recalled.
Deb Abellino was at work when she heard about the fire.
"The guy said 840 West Spruce and I said, 'that's my daughter's house!' He just left me go," said Abellino.
The couple and their three daughters lost everything in the fire, including their clothing and Christmas presents.
"Haleigh was just in there crying, 'What about Santa, what about my tree?' That makes you want to cry. It's hard," said Abellino.
All three girls are under the age of 7. The two youngest have special needs.
Because two of the girls have special needs, they require a lot of medical equipment. All of that equipment was also lost in the fire.
"They lost her suction, they lost all her medical equipment, she feeds through her belly," Hauer explained.
Despite all of their losses, both grandmothers are thankful no one was hurt.
"They got out, they got out safely," said Abellino. "They knew enough to grab what they had to and just run. And that's the best thing. God was watching over them."
The Red Cross is helping the family and you can also help by contacting the family directly by callingTrudy Hauer at 570-509-2256.
Haleigh, age 7, wears size 7; Ava, age 4, wears 3T; Amelia, 18 months old, wears 12-18 months.