Car Theft Involving Essential Equipment for Disabled Child
A mother of a four-year-old child with a severe disability has expressed shock after her car was stolen. The vehicle contained medical equipment and supplies valued at up to £4,000.
While collecting her daughter's medication from the local pharmacy on Monday, 25-year-old Cartin Jones from Gorseinon, Swansea, left her car in a parking lot.
Her daughter, Eva Rae, lives with Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a rare genetic disease that affects the white matter in the brain.
The stolen car, a Volkswagen Taigo, contained Eva's specialized car seat worth £3,000.
Eva needed to travel to Cardiff later that evening to stay at the University Hospital of Wales. Without the specialized car seat, she had to lie on a standard back seat while Cartin held her.
"It wasn't very safe and we shouldn't have done that, but if we had missed the appointment, we would have had to wait another three years," said Cartin.
About Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD)
According to Great Ormond Street Hospital, MLD is a rare inherited condition that can cause a person to gradually lose physical abilities followed by mental faculties.
It is estimated that about one in every 40,000 people in the UK is affected by the condition.
There is no cure. Cartin stated that Eva was diagnosed at 18 months old and the family was informed she was expected to live until about five years of age.
Eva celebrated her fifth birthday on Sunday.
So far, Eva has lost her ability to speak and walk and is fed through a tube.
"It starts physically and then becomes neurological," said Cartin.
"I feel like we are now in the neurological stage."
Police Appeal and Incident Details
South Wales Police are urging anyone who sees the car to contact them.
On Monday, Cartin went to Sainsbury's and left her bag containing the car keys inside the vehicle while placing Eva in her chair to push her around.
When she returned about 20 minutes later, the car was gone. CCTV footage showed the car being driven away at 15:21.
"I was shocked," Cartin said. She explained that the thieves would have seen a blue badge, pictures of her daughter, and essential medical supplies in the car, but that did not deter them.
"I was most upset about my daughter's car seat. It is a specialized seat – we cannot travel anywhere without it.
"So hospital appointments are a burden now because we cannot get to them without that seat."
Cartin, who is currently training at the hospital on how to use NIPPY (Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation) masks to help Eva breathe at night, said several people have seen her car since Monday.
"There is no update from the police about my car," she said.
>"They said they would look into it but we haven't heard anything yet."
Recently, funds have been raised for Eva Rae to enable her to have new experiences, but Cartin said the money might now need to be used to purchase new equipment.
Police Statement
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said they understand the experience of losing a car is "costly" to the victim and causes distress and inconvenience.
They confirmed that the police are investigating the matter and encouraged anyone who sees the car to contact them immediately.
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