Little girl battling brain tumour gifted brand new iPad after hers was stolen

23 February 2024 , 14:11

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Two-year-old Gracelyn Stiffler opens her new iPad (Image: Catherine Owens/SWNS)

This is the heartwarming moment a little girl was given a brand new iPad after her previous tablet was stolen.

Two-year-old Gracelyn Stiffler, who has a type of brain tumour called a grade 2 Ependymoma, was at a medical appointment with her mum Catherine, 28, when her tablet was taken from her luggage wagon in the hallway. Catherine, an office manager from Calhoun, Louisiana, USA, didn't even notice it was gone until she got an email about a password reset. She said: "The rooms where we have our appointments are far too small to take in a big wagon so I left it in the hallway with the tablet inside.

"I honestly didn't think someone would take a cancer patient's belongings. When I realised, I felt horrible; I was in shock that someone actually took it. It's been a big help when she comes out of her treatments. The anaesthesia makes her cranky and sometimes all she wants is to watch her princess movies or listen to music."

Two-year-old Gracelyn Stiffler opens her new iPad (Catherine Owens/SWNS)

After posting on the St Jude Hospital's family page on Facebook about the theft, someone told her about the 'Miracle at Manchester Foundation', which had previously raised funds to buy a cancer sufferer an iPad. Catherine contacted the foundation and they responded by sending Gracelyn a brand new Apple iPad.

Catherine said: "I felt relieved. It was an amazing experience to be able to provide her with a brand new iPad. Seeing her so excited, I had teary eyes as I was just thinking how blessed we were." Gracelyn is now doing much better and has just finished her first round of Proton radiation therapy. Catherine added: "She's doing great at the moment, she's still a bit cranky, but overall she's a rockstar!"

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