FIREFIGHTER HAS HEART BIG AS A DINOSAUR\Ailing boy gets new VCR, Barney videotapes after home burglarized.Byline: Terri Hardy Daily News Staff Writer A sick little boy forced to live in isolation was reunited "Reunited" was a #1 hit in the United States in 1979 by the Washington, D.C.-based group Peaches & Herb. Preceded by "Heart of Glass" by Blondie Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 5 1979 Succeeded by "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer with his favorite dinosaur Thursday. Firefighter Mike Flatt replaced Justin Lopez's videocassette A removable magnetic tape module for storing video data. The cassette contains supply and takeup reel (hubs) in the same housing. See VCR. player and Barney the dinosaur videotapes after reading how thieves took the items a week ago. "I see a lot of bad stuff in my job - it's always great to see a happy little kid," said Flatt, a Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. city firefighter in Reseda. "I'm definitely not a millionaire, but I wanted to do something to help." Flatt delivered the gifts to the 16-month-old boy, then smiled broadly as Justin laughed and pointed to the purple dinosaur. "I was sitting around the fire station drinking my coffee when I read about the theft," Flatt said. "I thought of my own little girl, who is just a little bit older, and decided I had to do something." Justin's grandfather Ray Lopez said Flatt's generosity came as a surprise. "He is Santa Claus Santa Claus: see Nicholas, Saint. Santa Claus jolly, gift-giving figure who visits children on Christmas Eve. [Christian Tradition: NCE, 1937] See : Christmas Santa Claus . You can't beat anybody with a heart like that," Lopez said. Sixteen-month-old Justin suffers from a rare immune disorder, DiGeorge's Syndrome DiGeorge's syndrome an immunodeficiency syndrome in humans and mice, associated with thymic hypoplasia or aplasia and absence of T lymphocytes, resulting from a congenital absence of the third and fourth branchial pouches. , and must stay inside his Sylmar home or risk contracting viruses he cannot fight. His favorite diversion has been watching Barney. "When he is sick, it calms him," Lopez said. "When he's feeling better, he dances and sings." Justin was rushed to the hospital Dec. 29, suffering from chicken pox chicken pox or varicella (vâr'əsĕl`ə), infectious disease usually occurring in childhood. It is believed to be caused by the same herpesvirus that produces shingles. and a cough. While the family was away, burglars broke down the door at the home in the 13000 block of Herrick Avenue and stole several items, including Justin's prized possessions. Since the story appeared in the newspaper and on television, the Lopez family has been flooded with offers of help. "This has made the whole family feel so good, knowing that people care out there," said Lisa Lopez, Justin's mother. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Lisa Lopez and firefighter Mike Flatt watch Justin Lopez, 16 months, look at a Barney videotape after Flatt installed a VCR VCR: see videocassette recorder. VCR in full videocassette recorder Electromechanical device that records, stores on a videotape cassette, and plays back on a TV set recorded images and sound. for the boy. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
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