For six-year-old Kirkland resident and Lakeview Elementary student Madeline Herman, it was a Christmas with Kirkland firefighters and Seahawks placekicker Steven Hauschka.

Madeline, who is undergoing chemo treatment for cancer, was paid a visit on Christmas Eve by members of the Kirkland Firefighter’s Stairclimb Team from Fire Station 22, which presented her with her own Kirkland firefighter uniform with her name on it.

Kirkland firefighter Jon Hernandez said the team, which raises money for cancer research, also looks to do things for cancer patients in the community. After reaching out to Madeline’s family, which moved from Walla Walla so she could be treated at the Seattle Children’s Hospital, the firefighters recently visited her for her sixth birthday in early December. In the meantime, they also collected money by passing a boot around the station to buy her gifts on top of the uniform.

Hernandez said they thought of having a Seahawks player come along after finding out Madeline has been an avid Seahawks fan ever since she was little and has plastered pictures of the players all over her bedroom walls. Her mother, Brook Herman, said Madeline watches every game, and in preschool she drew a self-portrait of herself in a Seahawks uniform.

The firefighters finally reached Hauschka, who was willing to come by, but after a long practice on Christmas Eve went into the late evening, he decided to show up at the family’s front doorstep Christmas morning with a signed shoe and photograph of himself.

Having had no forewarning, the family was taken by complete surprise.

“She (Madeline) was just over the moon,” Brook Herman said. “It was very surprising to us. We were really excited. Madeline has really wanted to meet the Seahawks and it was kind of unbelievable someone would put themselves out there to surprise her on Christmas Day.”

Madeline was originally diagnosed in 2013 and has been undergoing chemotherapy since August as part of a 43-week treatment. Currently, there is a fundraiser to help her parents cover some of the costs for her healthcare. Donations can be made at http://www.gofundme.com/stronglikemadeline.