This weekend News 13 brought you the heartbreaking story about a local single dad whose disabled daughter’s wheelchair was stolen from his car.
Since that story aired members of the community have stepped forward in a big way to help the family.
Those viewers and community members have donated more than $6000 dollars in just over 24 hours to help with replacing 3-year-old Eva's wheelchair, and for her future care.
“All I can say is thank you; because I have a sense of peace,” said Brian Kulbaba when we asked him what he would say to the people who have donated thousands of dollars to help his family.
Earlier this week Kulbaba walked out of his home to take his two daughters to school and that’s when he realized someone stole his car.
His 3-year-old daughter Eva suffers from a neurological disorder and needs that wheelchair to get around, and her wheelchair was in that stolen car.
Saturday, just moments after family friends started a Go-Fund-Me account for Kulbaba and his family, thousands of dollars were donated to help get Eva a new wheel chair. “Come Tuesday when she goes back to school she will have at least something,” Kulbaba told us.
Police were able to find the family car, and Kulbaba told us that on Saturday a News 13 viewer called the police reporting they found some of the family’s belongings next to a dumpster.
Kulbaba still holds hope that they will be able to find the wheelchair but in the meantime, he told us he is overwhelmed with gratitude, “All the support that I’ve gotten from family friends and strangers has renewed my humanity.”
Anyone with information about this missing wheelchair or the people who stole the vehicle in the first place are encouraged to contact the Orlando Police Department.
While more than enough money has been raised to replace the chair, the family friends want donors to know any excess funds will go towards the care Eva's condition will continue to require. To donate, you can visit the GoFundMe page here.