COVINGTON, Ky. — Police announced Thursday night they had successfully recovered a car stolen from the family of a Children’s Hospital patient earlier in the week.
Kristen and Kyle Fernandez had driven from O’Fallon, Missouri, so 2-year-old Raeleigh could receive the first in a series of operations to improve her breathing. Raeleigh has achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that is sometimes associated with upper airway obstruction, and breathes with the help of a tracheostomy.
Her parents chose Children’s Hospital to perform the surgeries that will — they hope — eventually allow her to breathe normally without it.
She was still recovering from her July 15 operation when the car was stolen from their hotel parking lot Monday morning.
Kyle Fernandez said insurance would have paid to replace the vehicle if police didn’t find it, but the car contained about $10,000 worth of possessions it wouldn’t. Some of them were important to Raeleigh’s health, including a double stroller with space for a tracheostomy suction machine. Police could not confirm Thursday night whether the items were still inside the car when they found it.
The Fernandez family had already left Cincinnati by the time the vehicle was recovered. Kyle planned to return with a set of spare keys to drive it home.
The two suspects who originally stole it remained unidentified.
