text size

Wristbands Stolen from Family of Cancer-Stricken Teen

Updated: Friday, January 25 2013, 08:02 PM EST
COLUMBUS -- An Ohio mother says an unknown thief will have to live with the fact that he or she stole wristbands meant to support a teen's fight against cancer.

Paint Valley High School senior Sydney Hodge was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin's Lymphoma in autumn, 2012 -- just weeks after the 17-year-old was crowned the school's homecoming queen.

Hodge's mother, Carol Lynn Adkins, told ABC 6/FOX 28 she was by her daughter's side in a hospital room, when she received a call Wednesday, confirming the delivery of a box of purple wristbands she ordered to allow community members to show support for Sydney.

"I ordered the bracelets off the internet," Adkins said.  "I picked the word "Spero" to write on them.  It means I hope in Latin.  Sydney and I both like Latin words.

When Adkins arrived home Wednesday night, however, the box was nowhere to be seen.

Adkins filed a report with the Ross County Sheriff's Office, but she believes the thief may have more to fear from his or her own conscious.

Whoever took it, they have to live with it.  When they opened up the box and saw what was there, they had to know what they got," Adkins said.  "Now they have to deal with what they did."

Adkins intended to give the bracelets to people who donated to Sydney's recovery efforts. But now, the single mother says the thief has left her with nothing to give in return for her community's generosity.

If you can steal from a child with cancer, you can steal from anybody, she said.

Sydney is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus. She is eager to return to school to spend time with her friends.

She is very positive.  Strong. Very strong, Adkins said.  I think the hardest part for me is not being to help her.  Not being able to stop the cancer.

Anyone who would like to help Sydney and her family can contact her mother at Caroladkins72@gmail.com.

---------------------------------

Reporter: Lu Ann Stoia
Web Producer: Ken HinesWristbands Stolen from Family of Cancer-Stricken Teen