. >> reporter: maurin dobbins was just 33 years old and it was supposed to be a new beginning for the family but it was an exhausting ordeal, but they met many angels along the way. >> she was the most unselfish person i ever in the. wife died after a surgery that was supposed to save her. >> she better off than we are. she is not in pain. >> reporter: he spoke to us by phone. >> god has a plan and sometimes, it instant r isn't -- isn't what we want. >> reporter: a birth defect gave her just 40% lung capacity. so she could barely breathe. they traveled for the procedure and rented $7,000. when they arrived, the landlord backed out and kept the money. desperate, they put out the word on social media and a local firefighter with a home for rent let them stay for free. >> it doesn't stop at the fire station. that's who you are. you see someone who was wronged, you pretty much want to go after them. >> reporter: the whole fire station adopted them. >> the way that they took care of lauren and took care of me and the entire family, the >> reporter: in recovery from surgery, lauren's heart