NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) -- Earlier this month, the Fulford family was in crisis mode after a pipe burst in the middle of the night. Cold water fell from the ceiling and onto 38-year-old Veda Fulford who lost both legs due to infection a few years ago. The family living room is where she lives, on a sofa. Her motorized wheelchair is several inches wider than the entrance to her bedroom. Dontae, who is 11 years old, recalled the frightening experience of being forced from his bed and rushed outside as firefighters responded to the home during the early morning hours of Dec. 1. "It was cold outside because when I was going to bed, I left my sweatpants in the bathroom. My dad was cooking before that, and I left my sweatpants in the back room. And when a pipe burst, I was upstairs sleep. And this woman right here [his sister] said that something was leaking on Mommy," Dontae said. The children had to stay with family members while the house was repaired. 10 On Your Side viewers answered the call when the mother asked the community for help. "Habitat [for Humanity] was one good company [nonprofit organization]. They came in, helped out. Mr. Comfort found out things that I didn't know about my HVAC system; so, I was thankful for that. We even got a visit yesterday from Norfolk City, to check and make sure things were moving in the right direction, Fulford said. Fulford is a hospice patient with numerous ailments. Days before Christmas, tears fell from her eyes as she could no longer mask sadness. She longs for presents and traditional holiday meals to make the season bright for her children who are ages 11, 12 and 14 years old. "Just to be able to have a Christmas dinner and them [the children]to be able to have a few gifts, for Christmas. I'm not really worried about myself. I want them to be able to wake up to something. I feel like my greatest gift was having my house back and in shape for them to come home for Christmas," Fulford said. Dontae took the lead in explaining what the children really want for the holidays. "I'm happy that my family is all together because now we can just, even if we don't have presents, we can sit and watch TV together, eat popcorn and joke around like we always do in this house," Dontae said. Veda, a hospice patient, returns to Sentara Norfolk General at the end of the year. Doctors and nurses will treat infections that followed surgery to her spine. Fulford said she takes antibiotics and nurses routinely check her blood for sepsis. The family established a Gofundme account earlier this year. Fulford says most of the funds that were donated this month were used to buy materials that were needed to repair water damage to her home.