Heartless thieves brazenly stole a 20-year-old bone cancer patient’s prosthetic leg out of the trunk of his car while he was out to dinner with friends in Portland.
Atticus Root, 20, returned from dinner with friends when he noticed the trunk of his car had been ransacked as shameless thieves ran off with the his custom prosthetic leg and a bag of tools he required for his welding job.
‘They messed with the steering column and popped the trunk,’ Root’s uncle, Joshua Veldstra said of the cold-hearted theft.
‘His leg was in the trunk, which got stolen with some of his work equipment, like his welding bag. This is a “he just can’t catch a break’ kind of situation,”‘ Veldstra told NBC News, adding that his nephew had ‘just gotten used to’ the faux limb.
Portland Police have since confirmed the theft, which happened in the area of Southwest 11th Avenue and Southwest Columbia Street on December 8.
That night, Root had swapped out his regular prosthetic, which included a bendable-knee running blade, for his spare – a package that all together values at around $8,000.
‘It was custom-made to fit his body,’ Veldstra said, noting that his nephew’s spare prosthetic wasn’t as comfortable. ‘It was made just for him.’
‘It’s super important for his work too, because he didn’t have to use crutches and was able to use both hands,’ he uncle added. ‘Now everything is harder again.’
Atticus Root, 20, returned from dinner with friends when he noticed the trunk of his car had been ransacked as shameless thieves ran off with the his custom prosthetic leg and a bag of tools he required for his welding job
A prosthetic leg similar to 20-year-old Atticus Root’s.
Root was just 13 years old when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer that occurs most often in children, teenagers and young adults.
The rare cancer was located in his left femur and in danger of spreading, forcing the then-teenager to make a life-changing decision – to amputate his leg.
‘It wasn’t really that hard of a decision to make, it was either my life or an amputation,’ Root said in a 2019 interview with KGW8.
After the full-leg amputation, Root had to relearn to walk, work and live using the pricey, custom-made limb.
Now, years later, Root’s family said he has only just gotten used to the leg, which was specially fitted to his socket.
‘It’s been a rough month. Atticus was just beginning to feel better and get back on his “feet,” he doesn’t deserve this,’ his mother, Irene Veldstra wrote on a GoFundMe page made to help cover the high-cost of a custom replacement.
She noted that because the leg was custom-made and had so many detachable pieces the prosthetic would have no serial number, making it more challenging to locate.
‘[Prosthetics] are all custom made to the patient, plus the prosthetist who understands all the science of the body and building the leg. Things I’ve learned – legs are complicated,’ she added.
Root was just 13 years old when he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer that occurs most often in children, teenagers and young adults
After the online fundraiser met, and later exceed its goal of $8,000 – raising nearly $12,000 -the donation page was closed.
‘It’s been quite an adventure and the incredible support has been another overwhelming reminder of the marvelous community that has shown its care in such a variety of ways to our little family,’ she wrote in an update.
However, Root’s uncle told NBC it still could be several months before his nephew’s new leg could be built.
Portland Police are still investigating the incident and have said that refuse organizations remain on the lookout in the case the leg was discarded.
Oregon Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit organization, is also offering a $2,500 reward to anyone who can share information or an anonymous tip leading to the return of the prosthetic.
