Mother of baby battling cancer claims fundraising money stolen from hospital room

By Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

@kirstenglavin

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – An investigation underway at Hasbro Children’s Hospital after money, meant for a young child with leukemia, was stolen.

Kelly Smith, the boy’s mother, said $2,000 was taken from inside her child’s hospital room sometime Monday night while the family was sleeping.  The money was donated from a fundraiser for her 14-month old son, Kaydin, who is battling leukemia for a second time.

"You’re on the oncology floor. How do you steal from a child with cancer?" said Smith.

According to Smith, she had nearly 4 thousand dollars in cash tucked away in her pocket under the sink, but not all of it was stolen.

"I counted it immediately, and noticed there was $2,000 missing from my pocket."

She also told ABC6 that her husband’s wedding ring, which was on the counter, was also gone.

"They just took as much as they could and put the rest back, to make it not noticeable that there was money missing from the stack that had been in my pocket," said Smith.

She believes the only people to have access into her bedroom overnight, were house keeping and her child’s nurse.

"I don’t believe it was one of the nurses. I don’t believe it was one of the CNA’s. I believe it came from the housekeeping staff," said Smith.

Hasbro released a statement Tuesday saying:

"Rhode Island Hospital is assisting Providence Police in its investigation into an alleged theft of personal property from a Hasbro Children’s Hospital patient room. The hospital takes any such report seriously and will provide any assistance necessary in the investigation."

Smith told ABC6 News that she and her husband are out of work, and are staying at the hospital with their son, full-time.

"For you to come into our room while we were sleeping, with our son who is fighting for his life… and steal from us?  You are the lowest person on this earth. The lowest," said Smith.

Smith is also two months pregnant with her second child.

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016