The mother of two children who jumped from a second-floor window during a fire at their apartment said her kids' recovery will be a long one.
Amelia Gomez said the trauma still haunts her children -- 12-year-old Abigail and 10-year-old Julio, who remains in intensive care at Valley Medical.
The boy also is facing several surgeries in the coming years after suffering second- and third-degree burns on his body.
Gomez, a single mother, said she lost everything in the blaze.
On Wednesday, she received a boost from the San Jose Firefighters Burn Foundation when the organization surprised her with a check for $2,000.
Firefighters said responding to incidents like the one that left Abigail and Julio injured also takes a toll on them, adding that helping victims is therapy for them.
"It helps us with recovery as well," said James Aparicio of the burn foundation. "It takes a toll on all these calls seeing children are injured. We take that home with us."
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Gomez said she always thought that all firefighters did was put out fires. She did not imagine they also provided emotion support like the one she received.
Gomez said she will be forever grateful for the support she received from friends, nurses and firefighters.
Firefighters have set up an Amelia Lopez Fire Relief Fund at the Premier One Credit Union. In addition, a Go Fund Me site has more than $4,500 in pledges to help Gomez.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
NBC Bay Area’s Hannah Decker contributed to this report.
