Jeff Knox has been using the bike every day since his daughter was born
A father has pleaded for thieves to return his motorbike after it was stolen right outside the hospital where his three-month-old baby is recovering from a serious health condition.
Jeff Knox has spent almost every day at the University Hospital of Wales , Cardiff, with his daughter Gabriella since she was born prematurely with part of her bowel outside of her body.
Jeff, 52, said the £3,500 Suzuki bike was stolen outside the hospital on Tuesday evening while he was visiting Gabriella in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Jeff said: “I would say to the people who stole my bike, that if they knew what they were putting me through on top of what I’m going through already they might think twice.
“I know that there are worse things, but it takes a lot of hard work to go through all of this and that bike was my guilty pleasure.
“If they could just feel it in their hearts to return it, and if only they knew of the consequences.”
The bike was secured and all that was left behind was one wheel of the Black Suzuki DRZ400SM bike.
Jeff said: “I’ve got one wheel of the bike still, I’d like the rest of it back too.”
Jeff believes that three men drove up to the bike and took it away in the back of a van.
Gabriella was born via an emergency caesarean on September 17 at 1.44pm in Singleton Hospital, Swansea, at just 36 weeks weighing just 5lb 3oz.
Due to her condition, she was immediately taken to the University Hospital of Wales for treatment, and has so far had three operations.
Jeff said: “They had scheduled an induction at 38 weeks, but there was a problem so it was done at 36 weeks.
“They operated on her straight away - we almost lost her.
“Three operations later and she is now doing okay. But doctors had to remove part of her bowel, so she only has 41% of her bowel left now.”
It is unlikely Gabriella will be home in Swansea before Christmas, and Jeff now stays overnight at the hospital to be close to his daughter.
Gabriella suffers from gastroschisis which is when a child’s abdomen does not fully develop inside the womb.
The Great Ormond Street Hospital in London say that one in 3000 babies are born with the condition each year in the UK.
South Wales Police confirmed that the bike was stolen and appealed for anyone with information to come forward by calling 101 and quoting reference number 452449 or by calling Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/dads-bike-stolen-outside-hospital-12227066
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