by Stacy Jacobson
sjacobson@abcnews4.com
MCCLELLANVILLE, S.C. (WCIV) -- Eugenia Deas, 88, lives alone in her McClellanville house. She's proud of her independence and being able to drive her friends when they need help, too.
She is grateful she survived a house fire in the early 1990s.
"I was burnt. They didn't expect me to live -- 85 percent of my body. I had to learn how to walk all over again," she said.
The experience made her appreciate the basics in life.
"I didn't ask for nothing special. What anybody gives to me, I'm thankful because they don't have to give me nothing. You have to be thankful," she said.
Deas said her nine children and grandchildren live all around the world. She didn't know if they would make it to her home in McClellanville this Christmas. But Deas did get gifts this year through Families Helping Families.
Along with her gloves, she got slippers and a new scarf: "Oh boy!"
They may seem like small tokens, but they gave her exactly what she wanted.
"See I live by myself. I don't need nothing fancy. All I need is comfort. That's all I ask for, comfort," she said.
Families Helping Families helped more than 700 families and individuals this holiday season.
