Thieves take more than just vehicle

• Carrie Gajewski outside Croix View Apartments

Carrie Gajewski had her specially fitted SUV stolen from the Croix View Apartments parking lot in the early Friday morning, Dec. 16. Photo by Jordan Willi

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To most people, a car is just a means of transportation, but to Carrie Gajewski, her SUV was her means of independence.

On Friday, Dec. 16, between 2:30 a.m. and 3 a.m., Gajewski’s silver 2000 Honda CR-V was stolen from the Crest View Apartments parking lot. The SUV was specially fitted with hand controls to allow Gajewski to operate the SUV even with the limited use of one of her hands which was the result of a stroke she suffered in 2001.

“She has had it since 2003 or so and she’s used it for everything. It allowed her to get around by herself,” said Kathi Gajewski, Carrie’s mother. “Now she has to rely on other Croix View residents to help her get around.”

Carrie spent five days in intensive care and another five weeks in the hospital after her stroke in mid-February of 2001. The stroke occurred in the left side of her brain which is where the language and speech processes are located. Carrie went through both speech and physical therapy to learn how to talk and walk again.

Once she was released from the hospital, Carrie lived with her parents in Grantsburg. Soon, she improved enough to regain her driver’s license. In 2005 she was able to move into her own apartment in Hudson. Four years later, Carrie got a job at the UPS store, where she currently works two days a week, with the help of the Wisconsin Department of Rehabilitation.

“The loss of her car hasn’t been a huge deal yet, but it was her independence,” said Kathi. “It is how she gets to her doctor appointments and does her other errands. Luckily, everyone at Croix View has been willing to help her get where she needs to.”

Also lost along with the SUV were Carrie’s cane and some DVDs and CDs she had left in the vehicle.

A bank account has been set up at US Bank for the community to send donations to help Carrie raise money toward a new vehicle. For more information contact the Hudson Housing Authority at (715) 386-5301.

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