Minnesota nurse working on front lines in New York City returns home to surprise daughter on 7th birthday

A 7-year-old girl in Shakopee received a special birthday surprise Wednesday.

The girl’s mother, Lisseth DeGracia, was medically deployed to New York City to help with COVID-19 patients. DeGracia has been working in an emergency room in Queens for the past two months.

She had originally planned to surprise her daughter, Presley, by decorating their front yard with large birthday signs from Card My Yard Twin Cities East.

“We started this business as a way to bring joy to people,” said Erin Callahan, who recently launched the local business, renting out colorful yard signs to help families celebrate milestones like birthdays and graduations.

As it turned out, some nurses on the front lines were told they could go home six weeks early, so DeGracia was able to surprise her daughter in-person.

She quarantined for the appropriate amount of time in New York before driving home, just in time for Presley’s seventh birthday.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS captured their emotional reunion on camera.

"I missed you very much,” Presley said crying while hugging her mom.

“I missed you very much, too,” DeGracia responded.

“I have goosebumps,” Callahan added. “It’s such a joyful, wonderful occasion and we feel so fortunate that we get to help her celebrate.”

Callahan said Card My Yard has gotten a huge response since launching in the Twin Cities, as people have to celebrate special events at home because of the pandemic. She said the national headquarters shipped out more inventory to their franchises across the country in April and May than during the last 12 months combined. You can find more on information Card My Yard here.