Rhode Island family pleads for return of communication device stolen from child with CP

From WPRI-TV in R.I.:

PAWTUCKET, R.I. -- The family of a young boy with cerebral palsy is asking for a thief to return the child's communication device this week. They figure someone thought it was a laptop, but it's much more than that; it's the child's only real way to talk to his whole family -- as though a crook had stolen the child's voice.

Abdullah Abumasmah has cerebral palsy and developmental delays. He will turn five years old in just a few weeks, but he has no way to tell his mother what kind of presents he wants, or how excited he is to see the day arrive. The device that let him communicate is gone.

The family believes the device was stolen out of their car while it was parked at the Price Rite in Pawtucket.

"We think that whoever took it thinks it's a laptop or computer of some kind, and they can sell it, but it's of no use to anyone else," said Danna Muhtady, his mother, who was stunned by the experience.

By hitting pictures on the screen, Abdullah can put together simple sentences.

"The whole programming is personalized to his needs, to his daily activities, to talk for him. It's like his voice... and the loss of it is a major setback to his development," said Muhtady on Friday.

The Abumasmah family worked for a year with Medicaid to finally get the device, valued at $8,000. They can't afford another one, and they're not asking for donations, they're simply asking for the person who took it to return it.

"Please bring it back, no questions asked -- we don't want anything, just to have the device back-- so that he can communicate with us and other people again."