Thanksgiving

Stolen Wheelchair Returned to 4-Year-Old ‘Miracle' Girl Born Without Legs

The parents of a 4-year-old Santa Ana, California, girl who received an outpouring of support, including a $10,000 check, after their disabled daughter's wheelchair was stolen this week, have been presented with yet another miracle.

Rosa Perez woke up Friday to find her daughter, Milagros', wheelchair had been returned.

Perez said her husband came home and discovered the wheelchair by a trash can outside their apartment complex. He told her to look outside and she immediately broke down in tears.

Milagros, or "miracle" in Spanish, was born without legs, a heart condition and other ailments.

Her wheelchair was stolen Saturday night from behind a gate that couldn't be locked because it is a common area in the complex in the 400 block of South Flower Street.

Milagros' family pleaded to the public for help this week to get back Milagros' motorized wheelchair, which is the miracle girl's main way of getting to school.

After NBC4 viewer Joyce Brandman saw the newscast Wednesday, she came to the rescue, donating $10,000 for a new specialized wheelchair. The viewer called the assignment desk and said that after hearing Milagros' story on NBC4, she just had to help.

"What better gift can I give myself for the holidays than to reach out to help this child?" said Brandman.

Brandman handed over a check for $10,000 from the nonprofit Saul Brandman Foundation so that the family could buy a new specialized wheelchair built especially for Milagros.

The donor was delighted to hear that Milagros' wheelchair had been found and said the family could keep the money she donated.

"Now you see, out of something bad, something good happened. She had her wheelchair stolen, now the wheelchair has been returned and she's going to get the help and special care she needs," said Brandman.

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Perez said others have also donated wheelchairs, which she hopes to donate to another family in need.

Santa Ana police had no surveillance images or any descriptions of the thief.

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