There are birthday parties, and then there are birthday parties that leave an entire nursing home smiling long after the cake is gone.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

For Theresa Gola, turning 99 came with one very specific request — she wanted to celebrate with some “hunky” firefighters.

And judging by the reaction inside Palm Springs Post Acute Nursing Home in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, her wish could not have gone much better, per PEOPLE.

Theresa, who has been living at the facility for around a year, had apparently made it well known to staff over the months that she has always had a soft spot for a man in uniform. So when conversations turned to what she wanted for her birthday, she kept things simple.

More firefighters.

As many as possible.

What she probably did not expect, however, was for multiple departments to turn up in force to make the day unforgettable.

On Tuesday, March 31, firefighters from Chelmsford, Lawrence, Lowell, Dracut, and Westford all arrived at the nursing home to celebrate alongside her, turning an already emotional occasion into something that quickly captured attention far beyond Massachusetts.

The celebration had everything.

Flowers, cake, singing, hugs and a hallway escort that made Theresa feel like the star of the show.

Firefighters walked her down an aisle while staff and residents watched on, before joining together to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’ They also signed a poster for her to keep as a memory of the day.

One firefighter even burst dramatically through a large banner before presenting her with a rose and a hug, sending the room into laughter and applause.

For Theresa, it was overwhelming in the best possible way.

“I was shocked to see all of this,” Gola told WCVB-TV. “I expected a couple of them to come, but not the whole fire department!”

The emotion of the moment was written all over her face throughout the celebration, and at one point she tearfully described it as “the best birthday ever.”

That feeling only grew stronger as she spoke about the firefighters who had turned up to make her day special.

“Firemen are the best, I don’t care what anybody says,” Gola told WBZ-TV.

While the party itself quickly became the headline-grabbing moment, Theresa’s admiration for firefighters goes far beyond birthday fun.

According to reports, she has spent her entire life in New England and worked both at a local mill and later as a nurse’s aide before retiring. Over the years, she developed a deep respect for firefighters not only because of their bravery, but also because of the kindness they show people during difficult moments.

That kindness was on full display throughout the celebration.

The firefighters posed for photos, spent time chatting with residents and made sure Theresa enjoyed every second of the afternoon.

At 99 years old, she also appears to have no shortage of personality.

When asked about the secret behind her longevity, Theresa offered an answer that instantly became another fan-favourite moment from the day.

“Wine,” she said. “You have a little bit of wine every night, and you’re all set.”

And despite just celebrating her 99th birthday in unforgettable style, she is already planning ahead for next year’s milestone.

“Next year, I want the firemen in bathing suits!” she exclaimed.

Safe to say, the firefighters of Massachusetts may already be preparing themselves for an even bigger party next year.

Featured image credit: WCVB Channel 5 Boston / YouTube (screenshot)