Highland Park family reunited for Christmas after brutal stabbing

HIGHLAND PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Highland Park resident Blanca Rodriguez had not idea presents would be waiting for her at her neighborhood fire station.

Rodriguez spent nearly a month in the hospital after a vicious gang-related stabbing in late-November nearly took her life. Los Angeles firefighters and police officers wanted to make sure she and her family were taken care of during the holidays.

"I am so happy and I say thank you my god for everything, for the people, there's good people around my family and everybody helping," Rodriguez said.

Police arrested a reputed gang member and charged him with the stabbing.

"When we saw her last, it wasn't looking good," LAFD paramedic Michael Hayes said. "To see her now, smiling with her kids... it's good to see the background and support that she has,"

The toys for Rodriguez's 2, 4 and 6-year-old daughters, from ABC7's Spark of Love toy drive, were collected Monday in Canoga Park.

"She's a member of our community. She's a friend of the station. We're just happy that she can spend Christmas with her family, with her three girls and her husband," LAFD paramedic Paul Saavedra said.

Rodriguez's husband Jose says the most beautiful gift is having his wife home for Christmas.

"This Christmas is a special Christmas," Blanca Rodriguez said.