GARDEN GROVE : A Cheerier Christmas for Girl, 4

Four-year-old Valerie DeLaTorre’s Christmas will be a little cheerier, and perhaps a little less painful this year, thanks to the Garden Grove Fire Department.

Santa Claus arrived at Valerie’s home Thursday in a firetruck loaded with toys and food for the child, who was severely burned earlier this month while playing with matches. The Dec. 4 fire ignited the girl’s pajamas, and she sustained burns on over 30% of her body, fire Capt. Rich Kelly said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and transported the injured girl to UCI Medical Center in Orange for treatment. Discharged on Tuesday, Valerie is recovering from second- and third-degree burns to her legs and torso.

On Thursday, when Santa Claus, also known as firefighter Doug Ashby, walked into Valerie’s home, the child’s eyes lit up at the sight of her gifts, which included a new bicycle. Still, she wasn’t too sure whether Ashby was really Santa.

“I want to pull that down,” she said, pointing to Santa’s beard and giving it a tug. But Valerie’s best gift came in a telephone call Thursday morning. The family was notified that a local Shriners organization had arranged for free, specialized medical treatment for Valerie at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Los Angeles until she reaches the age of 18.

“Shriners will pay for everything,” said Albert Gingerelli, a member of the hospital’s board of governors, who had read about the girl’s accident in a local newspaper. “Whatever it takes, we pay for.”

Valerie will continue to receive treatment at UCI Medical Center until she is registered at Shriners Hospital, which will take place “as soon as possible,” Gingerelli said.

Valerie’s mother, Margie Villarreal, has also been caring for her daughter at home, a routine that includes attending to the child’s burns and skin grafts. She was elated when she heard of the free medical care.

“I was shocked,” Villarreal said of the free treatment. “I was really excited. . . . It does really help a lot.”

As Valerie sat propped up in an armchair, her legs covered by a blanket, her 6-year-old brother, Mario, and a bevy of cousins helped unpack the giant box filled with Barbie dolls and Legos.

The Villarreal family is one of 11 receiving food baskets and toys from city firefighters this year, Kelly said. The others asked to remain anonymous.

A little sluggish from the effects of pain medication when firefighters arrived Thursday, Valerie brightened up when a toy car was presented to her. After some thought, she mustered up enough strength, with the help of her mother, to test it out.

Valerie can walk despite her injuries, but “she’s just terrified that it’s really going to hurt,” Villarreal said.

“Other than that, she’s a pretty happy camper.”