Sanford community welcomes burn survivor home for holidays

Friends, local businesses and the fire departments across Lee County banded together Thursday to make the homecoming special for the entire Leffer family.

Leffer, 49, was driving along Interstate 40 in Raleigh Jan. 26, when, authorities say, an SUV cut across multiple lanes of traffic spurring a chain reaction of collisions. Leffer's truck landed in the woods and burst into flames.

Since then, he has had five surgeries and nine-month stay at the Jaycees Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill followed by daily physical and occupational therapy.

Leffer's wife, Amalia, and 2-year-old son Robert, have been spending most of their time in Chapel Hill to be near him as he recovers.

All three were greeted in Sanford Thursday afternoon by a parade of fire trucks lining the way to their home at 1714 Riddle Road.

When they walk in the door, they'll see the Christmas tree and gifts provided by volunteers and donations from the fire department, church groups and neighbors. A local furniture store pitched in to refurnish the Leffers' house, including a new, "big boy" bed for Robert, who has been sleeping in a crib.

"It means a lot. So much support, so many caring people," Robert Leffer said.

Dave Nance, chief of the Northwest Pocket Volunteer Fire Department, said the entire community came together to make sure the Leffers have a Christmas they will never forget.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone, to everyone, even people we don't know. They keep blessing us! Praise to the Lord," Amalia Leffer said.

"I wasn't supposed to be alive, but I made it," Robert Leffer said. "I'm with my family. I'm here to see my little boy grow up!"