When Delfino Villeda could not get up on his own, his brother, Nicolas, and sister-in-law, Danielle Bright, knew they needed help. It turned out that help, and more, came in the form of firefighters with Bunyan Volunteer Fire Department.

All his life, Delfino has struggled with his weight, his brother said. The cause, according to the family, is a medical condition compounded by depression. Until December of 2015, Delfino could get around on his own, but a week of inactivity put that to an end and put him in the hospital.

“Prior to that, he was able to walk and move around a whole lot more,” Bright said. “Just recently, he got to where he wasn’t able to get up.”

Delfino left the hospital to stay with Bright and Villeda but assisting him on their own was not possible. That’s when they called on the volunteers at Bunyan Volunteer Fire Department.

“Before, I really didn’t know what firefighters did. Of course, I knew they put out fires, went to accidents, but beyond that, I had no idea,” Bright said.

At 984 pounds, it took 12 firefighters to assist with lifting the 28-year-old Delfino. Twice a week, sometimes more, the family called for help and the volunteers responded, no matter day or night.

However, lifting Delfino posed safety issues for all involved and Bunyan VFD volunteers approached their Board of Directors about doing something more for the family.

“There was a need that we saw that had to be corrected — for both his safety and ours,” said Greg Cox, president of the board.

The department reached out to DART (Disaster Assistance Response Team of Eastern North Carolina). DART volunteers came to the home, replaced doors, repaired flooring and built an 8-foot-by-8-foot landing outside of Delfino’s door so his bed can be wheeled directly into an ambulance that pulls up to the house.

“We were kind of the facilitators for that, kind of putting the pieces of the puzzle together,” said Bunyan VFD firefighter Wes Williams.

“There shouldn’t have to be any more physical lifting,” Cox said.

The department’s assistance has changed the family’s lives, they said.

“It’s a blessing more than anything,” Nicolas Villeda said.

“Without them, he’d be stuck — we’d be stuck. He definitely wouldn’t be living with the family,” Bright added.

“He’d be living in the hospital,” Villeda said.

Thursday, Nicolas Villeda, Bright and Bright’s brother, Pete, attended Bunyan VFD’s monthly board meeting. Bright read a letter from Delfino to the volunteers — one that not only thanked them for the many physical lifts they’d given him, but for lifting his depression and putting him on a better path.

For Bunyan VFD Chief David Lewis, their experience with the Bright and Villeda family is simply another way the department serves the community.

“We never know what kind of call we have when the pager goes off. It could be anything from fires to gas leaks — we’ve had explosions,” Lewis said. “This is another service we provide. We came where they needed us. There’s one reason we have such diverse training, is to be better prepared for the different situations we might encounter.”

Bright said Delfino is now committed to losing weight. She told the assembled crowd that they’d saved Delfino’s life, both physically and mentally.

“They deserve every ounce of respect,” Bright said. “Our whole family — we’re grateful for them. They’re the ones that got him out of his depression. If it wasn’t for them, he wouldn’t be with us.”