Firefighter who saved infant reunites with girl at graduation

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WLS) -- A volunteer firefighter who saved an abandoned infant 17 years ago finally reunited with the girl at her high school graduation.

Charlie Heflin saved Skyler James on a frigid winter day in 1995 after other first responders were unable to find her in a snowy cemetery. They had never reconnected until James' adoptive mother reached out to invite Heflin to the girl's graduation party.

"I was very speechless," James told ABC News. "I could not say 'thank you' enough. I just hugged him and cried."

Heflin says he nearly missed finding James after an anonymous caller said she had left an infant in the cemetery. After nearly 10 minutes in subzero wind chills, Heflin finally heard the baby's whimper at the base of a pine tree.

The baby was covered in blood and pine needles, and had her umbilical cord still attached. Heflin was able to warm her up and take her to an ambulance, where the girl went to make a full recovery.