Joel Congo and his family had a rough Monday, the young couple and their 3-year-old daughter have been living in Edmonton for months so their toddler could receive life-saving treatment – but they found their only vehicle, and current source of income, had been stolen overnight.
Three weeks ago, 3-year-old Sara had a heart transplant at the Stollery Children’s Hospital.
Now, hospital staff are monitoring her progress – and on Monday morning the family left their hotel, expecting to make the short drive to the hospital in their truck.
“[We] came around the corner – right about where that blue car is, that’s where my truck should have been this morning,” Joel Congo said, pointing out the parking spot they had been using.
“Someone came and took it all while we were sleeping.”
The family’s black Ford F-350 truck and trailer with the words “Mr. Mechanical Bull”, on the side.
The Congos rent the mechanical bull, and they had brought it to Edmonton last weekend for a Christmas function.
Before it was stolen, Congo had planned to take it back home.
The family called the police and filed a report – they rallied friends as well, as a friend posted a photo of the truck and trailer on Facebook.
At that point, all the family could do was wait.
“We’re just hoping that somebody will spot it and give us a call, or maybe they’ll have a change of heart and just leave it parked on the side of the road where someone can see it and give us a call about it,” Congo said.
That’s exactly what happened, the family’s friend was contacted by a friend of hers, who saw the picture online, and then spotted the truck while he was driving home.
The vehicle and the trailer was found parked on a street in Calmar.
With files from Susan Amerongen
