An Ontario family is thanking their community for saving what could be one of their last Christmas seasons together, after a "Grinch" stole their holiday decorations.
Nelson Aguiar has stage four colon cancer, and he and his family say they aren't sure how many more Christmases he'll see.
Hoping to make the most of this season, Aguiar decorated his Cambridge, Ont., home earlier this year.
But before the family had a chance to celebrate the day, somebody stole the decorations.
Aguiar's wife, Krista Aguiar, said she struggled to explain the theft to her six and eight-year-old sons.
"I just referred to the Grinch story," she told CTV Kitchener. "They sort of understood and they said, 'They'll bring it back then.'"
True to the boys' prediction, somebody did step in to save the family's Christmas.
Mike Walsh, a local community member, read about the Aguiar's story online. He'd never met the family, but he felt inspired to help.
Walsh bought new decorations, rounded up a team of volunteers, and showed up unannounced to decorate the Aguiar's home.
"We're doing whatever we can and as much as we can to make their Christmas just a little better and take the pressure off them and not worry as much about what he's going through," Walsh said.
Now, the Aguiar's lawn is adorned with an inflatable duo of Minions, a light-up sleigh and candy canes, and strings of colourful bulbs along the roof and around the doorway.
Krista Aguiar said her family has been stunned by the support, and that they look forward to enjoying both the decorations and some family time this Christmas.
"This is just amazing. I don't have words to say," she said. "It doesn't take away the cancer … but we try to just put it aside and enjoy the holidays as much as possible.
With files from CTV Kitchener
