UPDATE: Disabled Woman's Vehicle Found, Assistance Still Needed

UPDATE (9 a.m., Dec. 30, 2011): Carrie Gajewski's SUV has been found and an insurance claim has been settled. According to Ron and Kathi Gajewski, Carrie's parents, the insurance company will dispose of the vehicle for salvage and Carrie is still in need of funds to replace the vehicle and the special equipment to adapt it to her disability.

"Reportedly, the car was discovered the day after it was stolen. It was found by campus police in a UW-Stout parking lot in Menomonie," Ron Gajewski said. "Why it took so long to pass this information on we don't understand. The steering column had been damaged to wire the ignition. The extent of any other damage is unknown."

A Christmas gift from Kathi to Carrie, a box of unassembled furniture, that was in the vehicle was taken, along with a number of CDs and the contents of the glove box.

Those interested in donating funds to help Carrie regain her mobility can mail their donation to any  branch or stop by in person to any US Bank branch to make a donation to the "Carrie Gajewski donation account." Make sure to reference the donation account when giving.

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Car thieves struck the in Hudson last week. In the police report, it goes down as an auto theft, but to the victim, it's much more than that.

Carrie Gajewski, survived a massive stroke at the age of 27 back in 2001. She has since endured years of extensive speech therapy to re-learn how to talk and physical therapy to regain the use of her right arm and the ability to walk. 

Her main goal was to return to work. Over the years, Carrie has gone from living with and depending on her parents Ron and Kathi Gajewski in Grantsburg, to living independently in her own apartment in Hudson, to working two days a week at Hudson's .

Thieves Strike

In the early-morning hours of Friday, Dec. 16, her specially altered SUV was stolen from the Croix View Apartments parking lot, according to a police report.

Carrie's silver 2000 Honda CR-V was stolen between 2:30 and 3 a.m. on Thursday morning from her assigned parking space just a few feet from the main doors at the Croix View Apartments, a residential complex for senior citizens and disabled people. The apartment building is controlled by the Hudson Housing Authority. Some witnesses have shared information, but there isn't any surveillance footage to aid the investigation.

"We have been here 45 years and this sort of thing has never happened," said Jody Branson, executive director of the Hudson Housing Authority. "We have security cameras inside our building and at our entry vestibule, but we don't have any that go out into the parking lot. Basically, we've never really needed that."

"They Took Her Independence"

Because of the Carrie's disability, the SUV was specially fitted with a running board on the driver side, and a steering wheel with a turning knob and hand controls for the headlights and windshield wipers. In addition, her walking cane was in the car when it was taken.

"Her car is her link to the world," said Jennifer Gajewski, Carrie's sister. "Language and speech are still a struggle for her. She can't text or use Facebook like her peers."

Jennifer says that Carrie's car allows her to get out into the world and interact with other people, get to-and-from her job and doctor appointments.

"The person who stole her car didn't just take a car," Jennifer said. "They took her independence and her connection to other people."

Seeking Community Help

For the time being, the Croix View community is coming together to help Carrie by giving her rides to and from work, Branson said. The vehicle itself is insured, but the needed adaptions required make it more costly and time-consuming to replace. The Gajewskis are seeking help from community members to raise the amount needed to fully replace Carrie's SUV.

"The money she receives from Social Security and her job is not enough for a new car, plus the adaptations needed," Jennifer said.

The family is asking that those with questions leave a message at the Hudson Housing Authority at 715-386-5301.

Those interested in donating funds to help Carrie regain her mobility can mail their donation to any branch or stop by in person to any US Bank branch to make a donation to the "Carrie Gajewski donation account." Make sure to reference the donation account when giving.

Anyone with information about the theft should call the at 715-386-4771.