ILLINOIS (KGO) -- A recent high school graduate in Illinois had a surprise visitor at her graduation party -- the man who saved her life on the day she was born.
It was 18 years ago when Skyler James' birth mother called police saying she left the baby behind at a cemetery, in freezing temperatures.
Volunteer firefighter Charlie Heflin found the girl and wrapped her in blankets until an ambulance arrived. Five days later, she was adopted and the two never met again, until graduation day this week.
Skyler's parents decided to track down Heflin and invite him to her ceremony and party, where the two had an emotional reunion.
"I was talking to someone at my party and my parents came up and said, 'We need you for a second.' They took me over to Charlie and Charlie introduced himself to me, and told me the whole story again," Skyler recalled. "I was totally shocked. It's something that I've dreamed of since I was a little kid and it's amazing."
Heflin gave Skyler framed newspaper clippings from 18 years ago, and the fleece he was wearing the night he saved her life.