A Berrien County family received a “Christmas miracle” last week when their broken furnace was replaced for free by Michiana Heating and Air Conditioning.

Twenty-five-year-old Brooklyn Ross said the temperature in her Benton Harbor home dropped to around 50 degrees after their 40-year-old furnace stopped working Dec. 16.

Her 2-year-old son Daniel’s feet and hands were getting cold.

“I didn’t know what to do because we don’t have the money to get it fixed,” Brookyln said.

Brooklyn and her husband, Rob, who served six years in the U.S. Army, looked to Facebook for help. Using the Facebook group, Berrien County Cool Garage Sale Site, the Ross’ announced that they were looking for portable heaters in order to get through the winter.

They never expected to get a call from Niles native Steve Gillispie, owner of Michiana Heating and Air Conditioning, which serves Southwest Michigan and the South Bend, Indiana area.

He offered to fix the furnace for free and even replace it if needed.

“I thought I was dreaming because I couldn’t believe anything like that could happen to us,” Brooklyn said. “I know people are calling it a Christmas miracle, but I believe it was God answering our prayers.”

The new furnace was installed Friday morning, allowing the Ross family to sleep easily knowing they won’t have to come home to a cold house.

“I don’t know what we would’ve done because we are on one income and we don’t have the credit to get a loan,” he said. “He (Steve) is living proof that there are still good and decent people out there.”

Michiana Heating and Air Conditioning also installed a free furnace to a Cassopolis family in 2011.