Mum, 29, paralysed in horror crash can’t visit kids at her own home after thieves sold her wheelchair ramp as scrap
Karolina Pigan was forced to move into a care home as her family house was 'not fit for her disability'
A PARALYSED mum has been left unable to visit her children after cruel thieves stole her £1,000 wheelchair ramp - for scrap metal.
Karolina Pigan, 29, was forced to move to a care home after a horrific car crash in August last year left her paralysed from the chest down.
She would visit husband Henryk, 48, and kids Sebastian, four, and Lena, six, on afternoons using a specially designed ramp that gave her access to her home.
Speaking from her care home, Karolina, who was a full-time mum before the crash, said: "I can't live at home after the crash because my home is not fit for my disability.
"I had the ramp installed about a year ago and it meant I could visit my family on afternoons.
"I have been left feeling like a visitor and have been so lonely since my crash, but this at least allowed me to see my children.
"But now I am stranded. My husband has tried to make me a new one, but it is very difficult to use and not very safe."
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She added: "Whoever took this must have known about it for ages.
"There were scrape marks outside on the road that suddenly stop, so they must have had a van waiting to put it in.
"I would suggest they took the ramp for the scrap value of the metal, although I can't say for sure.
"If it was someone who genuinely needed it, they could have asked me and I am sure I would have been able to let them borrow it.
"It has come at a bad time for me. We have been through a lot as a family because of the accident."
Her husband, who was a floor assistant at Morrisons, has also been put out of work because of his injuries.
Karolina said: "We are Polish and we were on our way back from a holiday there when we had a very bad accident on the motorway.
"I suffered a spine injury which has left me paralysed and I will not recover.
"My husband and my children have recovered, but the police told us at the time it was a miracle we were not killed."
The ramp was folded up next to the house when it was stolen on Thursday last week.
Leicestershire Police believes the theft took place between 9pm on Thursday, and 9am the next day.
In a statement, the force said: "The victim, who was left paralysed after a collision, is now using a homemade wooden ramp which isn't suitable.
"This was a callous crime and the person responsible knew exactly what they were stealing and did so with no regard for the victim.
"If you have any information about the incident or know anything about the current whereabouts of the ramp then please contact us."
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