An 11-year-old girl in Richardson has a new tricycle less than 24 hours after asking for the public's help when her special needs trike was stolen on Tuesday.
Kaitlyn Padgett's mom, Lindsay Carry, tells NBC DFW thanks to a generous donation from a North Texas man who wishes to stay anonymous, Kaitlyn will get a new trike.
Carry asks others who wanted to help to donate to Scottish Rite Hospital for Children "to help other kids like Kaitlyn."
Kaitlyn was born two-months premature and suffered a stroke, her mother said doctors later diagnosed her with cerebral palsy.
Carry said the disorder mainly affects her daughter's legs, making it difficult for her to walk even short distances.
Kaitlyn said even walking a block to a friend's house can be exhausting. That's why she was thrilled when two years ago her mom surprised her with the tricycle that was specifically designed for people with cerebral palsy.
"They are lower to the ground, so the point of gravity is lower so they're not so topsy-turvy and top heavy," said Carry.
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The trike even has special gear so Kaitlyn can pedal with her hands if her legs get tired.
"The freedom she felt when she got the trike, it allowed her to go out and be social and make friends she hadn't before," her mother said. "A kid with special needs, it's about fitting in. They don't want to be different. They just want to be another kid out there."
Padgett's bike was stolen after she rode a few blocks to her cousin's house in the 1800 block of Rainbow Drive and was inside for about 30 minutes.
"I would probably just ask why it was taken and did they know it was somebody's?" Kaitlyn said.
Carry said for a new tricycle can run anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 – and thanks to a generous donation, she'll be able to get a new bike so that Kaitlyn can continue to play with her friends.
