A family whose vehicle was stolen while they were in Edmonton for their daughter’s open heart surgery says they have been overwhelmed by the city’s generosity.

“It put a smile on our faces,” Jeff Spotted Bull told CTV News.

“It put a smile on her face.”

The vehicle belonging to the Calgary family was taken Monday night after they returned to their hotel following daughter Karnellia’s surgery.

Several items that were in the car have been replaced by a local family.

“My family wanted to shine a light on this family’s day and just the fact that we got some smiles today really made this day and this experience a whole lot better,” Joseph Tappenden explained.

Tappenden delivered a gaming console and some of Karnellia’s favourite games on Sunday.  

“She was shy but you could tell there was excitement there.”

He said he spent time in the Stollery himself when he was 14-years-old.

“I know what it is like to be in there. The days are very long. You are very weak, very tired.

“My parents always told me it was difficult having to wait for me to recover.”

In fact, it was Tappenden’s mother who first saw the story and encouraged her son to do something.

“It was a very upsetting story to watch.”

Edmonton police said they have been trying to locate the green, 2002 Oldsmobile Alero.

The vehicle has a sunroof and tinted windows.

The license plate was BCF 5462.

With files from Amanda Anderson, David Ewasuk