A thief in Texas stole nearly $2,000 in cash and emergency medication from the wheelchair of a terminally ill child at the State Fair of Texas. Days later, a good Samaritan stepped in to help the family replace the life-saving medicine.
Kayla Price, a single mother whose 3-year-old son Devin Cervantes has terminal brain cancer, said her purse was taken while she visited the Dallas fair with her children on Oct. 6. The bag contained $1,500 in cash and two doses of medication needed to stop Devin’s seizures.
“The potential of my son having a seizure and me not having that medication … it sucks,” Price told Fox 4 on Oct. 8. “I could lose everything because of someone’s careless act. It really hurts because I would do anything for my baby.”
Price had brought her children to the fair for a rare family outing, just one week before the annual event was scheduled to close. Devin had been feeling especially well, giving the family a chance to enjoy the day together.
The purse was taken from Devin’s wheelchair while Price briefly turned her attention to her older son.
Inside was a prescription nasal spray that Price said was essential for stopping Devin’s seizures. Her insurance would not pay for a replacement.
Price reported the theft to Dallas police and appealed directly to whoever took the purse to return her belongings.
“I hope, I really wish you had it in your heart to return everything,” she told Fox 4.
“You don’t know the pain that you’re causing me or my kids who you’re hurting. Just give it all back.”
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Devin is battling stage 4 terminal brain cancer and has been placed in hospice care.
According to his mother, he has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy and 45 radiation treatments. Despite those efforts, his tumor continued to grow.
Price has described Devin as a cheerful child who enjoys dancing, Spider-Man and SpongeBob SquarePants.
“Despite everything he’s going through, Devin is still the happiest little boy,” she wrote in a GoFundMe appeal.
The situation became even more urgent when Devin suffered a prolonged seizure on Oct. 9, leaving Price desperate to find a way to replace the stolen medication, NBC 5 reported.
Help came from Chris Bailey, a Dallas man who runs the Everybody Love Everybody Facebook group. After learning about the theft, Bailey donated $2,000 to help the family pay for the medicine.
“I sent her the money yesterday, and she immediately went to the pharmacy and filled it,” Bailey told the outlet.
“That medicine gave me a couple more days, a couple of more weeks, hopefully, and I am so glad,” Price said.
Bailey also said he hoped to meet Devin and had another gift planned for the young boy.
“A little early Christmas surprise,” he told NBC 5.
