Jacksonville rescue team surprises Braxton and Bri’ya Williams’ family with holiday shopping spree
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By Elizabeth Pace
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville rescue team that saved two small children from the woods reunited with the family for a surprise shopping trip Friday.
“I don’t think anybody saw this coming,” Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Lt. Josh Montoro said. “This is a special moment. This doesn’t normally happen, 72 hours into the woods with kids at that age.”
Montoro and Phillip Holden are the two JFRD firefighters who carried Braxton and Bri’ya Williams out of the woods Tuesday. The rescue was a team effort, made up of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and JFRD personnel, who searched the woods for days.
Williams family shopping spree Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams kids shopping spree Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya shopping Looks like the Williams family is taking home a Barbie Dreamhouse! (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya Shopping Spree JFRD and JSO were on hand to take the kids on a shopping spree. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya shopping spree Jacksonville Firefighters IAFF Local 122 and Lodge 5-30 teamed up to take all of the Williams kids on a Christmas shopping spree. (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department)
Braxton & Bri'ya Shopping Spree Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Lt. Josh Montoro rescued Bri'ya Williams on Tuesday. On Friday, the two went on a shopping spree. (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department)
Williams kids shopping spree Jacksonville Firefighters IAFF Local 122 and Lodge 5-30 teamed up to take all of the Williams kids on a Christmas shopping spree. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams kids shopping spree Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Bri'ya shopping spree Lt. Josh Montoro got to take Bri’ya Williams shopping & fulfill her Christmas wish list of a tablet that she picked out. (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department)
Williams kids shopping spree Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams kids shopping spree Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya All the Williams kids got to go shopping at Walmart on Friday. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya Williams shopping spree During the shopping spree, Bri'ya stole Lt. Montoro's heart.
Williams family Jacksonville Firefighters IAFF Local 122 and Lodge 5-30 teamed up to take all of the Williams kids on a Christmas shopping spree. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams family shopping spree Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya shopping spree Braxton and Bri'ya were lost in the woods for nearly three days. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya shopping In case you couldn't tell, JFRD Lt. Josh Montoro and Bri'ya Williams are buddies now. (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department)
Williams kids shopping spree Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams kids shopping spree Jacksonville Firefighters IAFF Local 122 and Lodge 5-30 teamed up to take all of the Williams kids on a Christmas shopping spree. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams kids shopping spree Jacksonville Firefighters IAFF Local 122 and Lodge 5-30 teamed up to take all of the Williams kids on a Christmas shopping spree. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Braxton and Bri'ya shopping Fraternal Order of Police thanked Walmart for donating towards this cause, opening its store and treating the kids so special. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams kids shopping spree Jacksonville Firefighters IAFF Local 122 and Lodge 5-30 teamed up to take all of the Williams kids on a Christmas shopping spree. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
Williams kids shopping spree Many of the officer and firefighters in these pictures are the same ones who helped search for the kids. (Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville)
“Just can’t imagine what the family was going through before that, and finding them was just, still can’t believe it, really,” Holden said.
Braxton, Bri’ya and their seven siblings were each paired with a member of the rescue team. Shopping carts were overflowing, each of the children playing around. Their mother said it’s a blessing from the community.
“The excitement of getting for Christmas whatever they want to pick out, it’s the best feeling ever, and it brings me almost to tears,” JSO Officer Bethany Senterfitt said. “It’s the best feeling, can’t even explain it.”
The family came home to another surprise. Ashley Furniture gifted new mattresses for all nine children.
This was all made possible by the Fraternal Order of Police Jacksonville Lodge 5-30 and the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters.