Eight miscarriages, three stillbirths – now thieves have stolen my disabled baby's pram
She has already been through more than most would ever have to face in an entire lifetime.
But after enduring the pain of eight miscarriages, three still births and burying another baby, Bilston mother Samantha Grove now faces a new heartache.
The 36-year-old has been targeted by callous thieves who raided her home and stole her car containing her disabled daughter's pram and an oxygen tank which 19-month-old Destiny Precious uses to help treat chronic lung disease.
Cherished mementos of the baby when she was younger were also taken by the thieves and the raid forced Miss Grove to shelve plans to visit the graves of her four children on Easter Sunday.
Today the distraught single mother said the theft had left her "devastated", unable to sleep and without any means to get her daughter to hospital for medical appointments three times each week.
Miss Grove is a full-time carer for her daughter and 13-year-old son Ashley Dean,who suffers global development delay, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Asperger's syndrome and autism – conditions which leave him upset if his environment changes.
She said: "It's been an absolute nightmare. I feel like I really need a break after this bit of bad luck.
"I can't think how I'm going to manage. I don't know how I'm going to get out and about to hospital. I don't know how I can afford to replace it all. I'm not sleeping. It feels creepy someone has been in our house and has pictures and personal things from all of us.
"I feel like I'm going to break down after everything that's happened."
She first discovered the theft at around 5am on Saturday morning when she realised that the front door of her Highfields Road home was wide open when she got up to change her daughter's nappy.
Miss Grove went downstairs to investigate and realised her Citroen Picasso had been taken.
As well as the essential oxygen tank the car contained a pink pram and a specially supportive baby car seat with a cow print pattern which helps hold Destiny Precious in place as she has a weak back and cannot sit up straight on her own.
The thieves also would have seen a picture of Destiny Precious on the dashboard – making it obvious that the owner of the vehicle had a disabled daughter. From inside the house, thieves stole an iPad2 and a camcorder, which not only had footage of Destiny Precious's first Christmas at home, but also footage of Ashley Dean on a scooter as he does not have the balancing skills needed to ride a bike.
She also had footage of taking the two children to feed the ducks together.
The raiders also stole two Sat Navs as well as items from Miss Grove's handbag including her purse, which had bank cards, cash and her daughter's medical records inside.
She added: "My daughter was in intensive care and in hospital for nine months so her first Christmas at home was special.
"They are precious memories on there and I want to record them. More than anything I want that video and I want the medical records and my daughter's photograph back. I don't like thinking anyone else has it."
Miss Grove, who split from her partner Gary Hammett after the stress of bringing up her children, also said that the theft had a knock-on effect Ashley Dean as he was very unsettled knowing someone had gone into the house. West Midlands Police today urged anyone with information on the raid to come forward and call 101.
Detective Constable Chris Woodward, from the force's Criminal Investigation Department, said: "This is an appalling crime which has left the victim struggling to take her daughter to hospital. It would have been obvious to the thief that the car transported a young disabled person as it was fitted with a car seat and an oxygen tank. Other items stolen from the victim held many treasured personal family photos stored on it of her daughter in hospital and her 13-year-old autistic son.
"We would implore anyone who has any knowledge of this crime to do the right thing and come forward to help us recover and return these valuables to the victim."
Anyone who can help Miss Grove should call 07592 124180 or email gazandsam2010@hotmail.co.uk
