WATCH ABOVE: A happy ending to a story that touched the hearts of many Edmontonians: a stolen van, containing medical equipment used by a six-year-old with cerebral palsy, is found. Eric Szeto has the update.
EDMONTON – Six-year-old Shaleigh will be able to go back to school after police found her dad’s stolen van with her wheelchair and carseat inside.
Edmonton police found the van early Tuesday morning in the parking lot of a grocery store near 82 Street and 112 Avenue in Cromdale.
“Two o’clock this morning, I got a phone call,” said Shaleigh’s 29-year-old father, Phillip Hulmes.
“They actually sent a unit down here to pick me up. They brought me up there, and sure enough it was my van.
“This the best feeling ever,” he said. “She’s got her wheelchair and car seat so she can go to school. She’s back at school today; she’s back to living kind of normal.”
Shaileigh, who has cerebral palsy, had to stay home Monday since her father didn’t have a safe way to get her to school.
His van vanished from the family’s central Edmonton home sometime Friday night or early Saturday morning.
Hulmes said the specialized medical equipment that was inside would have cost more than $15,000 to replace. The walker, which he says is valued at upwards of $10,000, is still missing. So are his construction tools.
“I flip houses and do a lot of renovations. Everything from a screwdriver, table saw, chop saw, skill saws, routers, nailers … everything you would use to build a house is gone.”
Hulmes says those things can eventually be replaced. He has already been inundated with offers, some all the way from the U.K.
“Just an enormous outpouring of support. People from far and wide, people offering wheelchairs and walkers, willing to help out financially, everything they can do to help. It’s been absolutely phenomenal.”
After airing the story of the missing van Monday evening, Global News also received several calls and messages from people wanting to help.
A couple who was going to sell their van said they would rather give it, complete with new winter tires, to Hulmes and his daughters. One woman offered up a wheelchair and a car seat. Another viewer also had a carseat available.
Online fundraisers were also set up on YouCaring and GoFundMe, the latter put together by a man from Saskatoon. As of Tuesday afternoon, about $2,100 had been raised.
Police continue to investigate the theft.
Hulmes says whoever left the van in the parking lot did the right thing.
“I don’t know if it was them or whoever it was, but thank you so much. It was a godsend for sure.
“Lots of prayers went out. My prayers were answered and Shaileigh’s prayers were answered, and that’s all that matters.”
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