SAN ANTONIO – A family is making a desperate plea after the van they use for their handicapped son was stolen from their driveway. The McAlexander family is now hoping the power of social media will help get their vehicle back.
Ryan McAlexander is a senior at MacArthur High School. He loves video games, his dog, and his family.
A few years ago, Ryan's parents, Robert and Migina McAlexander, bought a van to accommodate Ryan's disabilities.
"A lowered floor to the van, the middle section is just totally cleared of seats to give room for Ryan's wheelchair. There's a ramp that comes out so he can get on and off," Robert McAlexander said.
"That's Ryan's main mode of transportation," his mom, Migina, said. "He uses that for doctor's appointments, going to school, coming to dinners with us."
Early Thursday morning Robert walked out to the driveway to find it had been stolen.
"I couldn't believe it at first," Ryan McAlexander said.
Ryan said he and his entire family were distraught.
"It's a necessity for me. I'm surprised someone can live with themselves, doing something like that," Ryan said.
Migina, frustrated and heartbroken, made a police report and then took to Facebook.
"I was so overwhelmed with the response of my friends and just complete strangers. They're like us, they could not believe that someone would take his van. So they started sharing. I think it's been shared over 300 times," she said.
They hope someone will recognize the van and call police. In the meantime, they're having to improvise.
"Right now we're calling cabs," Migina said. "Car services, and you know there's not very many handicap-accessible modes of transportation."
They're keeping the faith that Ryan's van will be back soon.
"It's very, very important to our family. It would be a big financial setback for us because those mobility vehicles are not cheap. It was a very big expense," Migina said. "My husband he's worked very, very hard for Ryan, to provide for Ryan. He's still doing it. He's retired Air Force major for 20 years."
She is asking the public to keep an eye out for it.
The van is a navy blue Chrysler Town and Country. Anyone who sees the vehicle is asked to call the San Antonio police non-emergency number: (210) 207-7365.