AURORA, Colorado. – People watching Denver7 make a difference – ask the Merithew family of South Sioux City, Nebraska.
Aaron and Cheyanne Merithew drove 1,300 km to Aurora last week so that their 4-year-old son, Landon, could receive critical medical treatment for his cerebral palsy-related joint pain at Children’s Hospital.
Before they could return home, the thieves stole his truck, a 2000 Ford F-350.
The family turned to Contact7 for help, and after sharing their story in Denver7, a security guard who watched spotted the couple’s pickup truck behind an apartment complex at 146 Delmar Circle.
He called the police and they called John’s towing service.
David Messmer posted on our Facebook page that he towed the truck to a detention deposit.
That’s how the Merithews learned that their Ford F-350 2000 had been recovered.
“I was really happy that they really found him,” said Aaron Merithew. “So it flooded my head – what’s missing?”
“I was shaking. I was crying. I was so excited, as you can see,” said Cheyanne. “Landon was also very excited when he found out this morning.”
The Merithews are surprised at the show of support from people who want to help. One of them was the owner of a carriage in which Aaron worked as a diesel mechanic.
“He made the comment that basically ‘If I have to buy a car for you to get around …’ and Aaron was like no, that’s not necessary,” said Cheyanne. “The next morning, we woke up and he called Aaron and said, ‘I’m going to pick you up, I bought you a car.’ And we thought, ‘What? What?’ Our reaction was only one of shock. “
Many others contributed money to help pay for expenses.
The Merithews said their truck will need some repairs.
Cheyanne said the door lock and the ignition system were compromised.
She said Landon’s children’s chair is still in there, but they don’t know if all the tools are.
“Landon loves this truck,” said Cheyanne. “It’s his truck. She’s literally called Landon’s truck for a long time. I don’t know if it’s the diesel engine, or the hop, or both, but we’ve never heard him laugh as hard as we did on our way to Colorado.”
The family is grateful that their negative experience here is changing for the better.
“There is still a lot more good than bad,” said Aaron. “Evil only hits harder.”
But in this case, the evil is being overcome by a tide of goodwill.