99-Year-Old Woman's Birthday Wish for Firefighter Visit Comes True

Theresa Gola's love of firefighters leads to a surprise party with local fire departments.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:23pm

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Theresa Gola, a 99-year-old resident of a Massachusetts nursing home, had a special birthday wish this year - to see her beloved firefighters. To her surprise, firefighters from several local departments showed up to her party to help her celebrate, fulfilling her birthday wish.

Why it matters

Gola's affinity for firefighters is well-known among the staff at her nursing home, where she receives a firefighter calendar every year for her birthday. The heartwarming story highlights the power of community and the joy that can come from granting a simple birthday wish, especially for an elderly resident.

The details

On Gola's 99th birthday on March 28, firefighters from Lawrence, Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford and Dracut departments arrived at the Palm Springs Post Acute Nursing Home to celebrate with Gola. The staff had arranged the surprise visit after Gola expressed her wish to see her 'beloved firefighters' this year. Gola was shocked to see the large group, saying 'I expected a couple to come. Not the whole fire department.'

  • Theresa Gola's 99th birthday was on March 28, 2026.
  • The firefighter surprise visit took place on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Theresa Gola

A 99-year-old resident of the Palm Springs Post Acute Nursing Home in Massachusetts who has a special affinity for firefighters.

Seana Hall

The vice president of life enrichment at the Palm Springs Post Acute Nursing Home, who is familiar with Gola's love of firefighters.

Gary Ryan

The fire chief of the Chelmsford Fire Department, which was among the local departments that visited Gola for her birthday.

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What they’re saying

“I was shocked. I was shocked to see all this. I expected a couple to come. Not the whole fire department.”

— Theresa Gola

“It's totally in Theresa's fashion that she gets a fireman calendar every year for her birthday by her family, and that's what she has in her room.”

— Seana Hall, Vice President of Life Enrichment

“We come here quite a bit for medicals and other calls, so it was actually nice to come here to do something for a happier occasion.”

— Gary Ryan, Chelmsford Fire Chief

The takeaway

Gola's heartwarming birthday wish and the community's effort to fulfill it is a reminder of the power of small acts of kindness, especially for the elderly. The story highlights the importance of recognizing and celebrating the simple joys that can make a big difference in someone's life.