Bike stolen from woman with cerebral palsy

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Bike thefts are common, but for Stephanie Ignacio, a disabled Clairemont resident, getting her bike stolen last Tuesday did not just disrupt a hobby. It meant the loss of her legs.

Ignacio suffers from cerebral palsy and struggles to walk. When her boyfriend, Loyd Scott, bought her the new bike, it became an important mode of transportation.

"Basket with three wheels, bright red and it had a bell," Scott described.

“I love to see her ride it," he added. "I made sure it had gears so she could...if it was too hard to pedal...she could change that."

Last Tuesday, the bike was stolen from right outside their home, leaving Ignacio without a way to get around.

“I was using it around here to keep my legs stronger, because I’m not able to walk, because I’m disabled,” Ignacio said.

Since the bike was stolen, Ignacio said her leg strength gains have dropped and she's back to being pushed by Scott on their outings around the neighborhood.

Despite the loss of the bike and the inconvenience, Ignacio is trying to see the bigger picture.

"Maybe the guy that took the bike really needed it," she said. "I'm just going to let it go and leave it up to God."