Santa Claus visited Mia Curtin and her family in Dunkirk, with the help of a few special friends. Santa delivered Christmas gifts and holiday cheer to Mia and her family before she heads off to undergo another brain surgery on Wednesday, her second major operation within a year.

After Santa flew by on his sleigh to watch the Buffalo Bills deliver joy to the region with a win over the Dallas Cowboys, the man known for bringing joy in the heart of winter long before Josh Allen ever did was knocked off his sleigh by a gust of wind on the way back to the North Pole. Santa Claus was spotted by a group of Dunkirk students – Zach Zentz, Landon Thomas, and Gianna Novelli – who then called for emergency assistance to check on their jolly old friend.

The group earned their permanent spot on the “nice list” by being magically turned into elves and a reindeer to help make Mia’s Christmas celebration come to fruition.

After receiving a call from the special helpers, the Dunkirk Fire Department sprung into action and rushed over to tend to Santa Claus. They learned of Santa’s trip to western New York with a sack full of gifts for the Curtin family, at which point Mia’s dad, Jim Curtin, and Mia’s younger brother, Jimmy, happened to drive by and witnessed the commotion.

Jimmy Curtin rode with Santa Claus in a Dunkirk Fire Truck to the Curtin house to deliver Christmas gifts to his older sister, Mia, and their family.

The Fire Department, led by Lieutenant Nick Barter, helped the group of elves gather up the gifts they found scattered around the site. Jimmy Curtin hopped in the fire truck alongside Santa to direct the way to the Curtin family home, as the mishap left Santa without his sleigh or directions to the Curtin house.

Mia, 9, witnessed her little brother ride in alongside Santa on the fire truck. She was shocked that her little brother was “kidnapped” by Santa Claus. She and her brother were in awe of the night’s events.

“It was amazing,” said Denise Zentz, who witnessed the events. “Just to see the smiles on their face, and the excitement, and the magic of what was happening, it was great.”

Santa Claus stopped by just in time for Mia to enjoy Christmas at home with her family before heading off to surgery. Today, Mia will undergo a second major brain surgery, similar to the right hemispherectomy she underwent at the Cleveland Clinic on April 21. The operation today is an attempt to treat Rasmussen’s Encephalitis, a rare neurological condition that impacts young children. Her latest surgery date changed multiple times over the past few months, but it was finally set just days before Christmas.

Fortunately, all it took was a little bit of magic to give Mia a holiday to remember at home with her family.

Mia Curtin and her younger brother, Jimmy, left, got a special visit from Santa Claus on Sunday night at their home in Dunkirk.

Santa Claus is pictured with his special helpers - two elves and reindeer - from Sunday’s events. From left to right: Zach Zentz, Gianna Novelli, Santa Claus, and Landon Thomas.