The family of a little girl fighting leukemia remains positive after donations meant to help them were stolen out of a Volusia County church.
Four-year-old Olivia Kirkland is being robbed of her energy by leukemia. She was diagnosed with cancer when she was three.
"She doesn't have a lot of energy. She naps around a lot because of the, she takes medicine every night," said Olivia's mother, Katie Kirkland.
Katie Kirkland's congregation at the Church of Christ in Deltona found out about Olivia's condition and started taking up donations.
Medicaid pays for Olivia's treatment but the donations are vital to the Kirkland family.
"Sometimes you need help with the electric bill cause my husband's the only one working. I had to quit my job in order to get her to the appointments," said Kirkland.
This past weekend, the church was struck by a pair of thieves who stole about $1,200 in donations, as well as other items.
On Monday Volusia County deputies arrested Jessica Ducker and Daniel Sawyer for that burglary, as well as a string of burglaries in Deltona, which includes churches and a daycare center.
Deputies said the couple were found with two plastic bags of heroin and 10 Publix gift cards.
Olivia's mom is saddened by what the burglars did but is concentrating her efforts on trying to get Olivia well.
The best news she's heard so far is the congregation is moving on and will continue raising funds for the Kirkland family. She has also set up a Fundly account called "Rescue Olivia."
Thieves may have stolen Olivia’s donations, but fellow church members will not let them rob Olivia of a fighting chance to recover from a potentially deadly disease.
"I don't know what we would've done if we didn't have the church family. And just knowing, wooo, very helpful," said Kirkland.
This Fundly.com site is not managed by Bay News 9/News 13. For more information on how the site works and the rules visit http://fundly.com/terms-of-use/.