Leisha was disgusted. "I was just gutted. My daughter has been robbed of a normal childhood and then someone stole the only thing she got any enjoyment from."
Aalya has neurofibromatosis which causes tumours to grow along her nerves. At the moment she is undergoing chemotherapy to try and stop tumours growing on her optic nerves. The treatment has left her with no immunity so she can't go the park, the playground or to a friend's house in case she gets sick.
That's why the swings were her world.
Patrick, 31, couldn't believe that someone would take the set. "It was really heavy, it takes two people to lift it."
They would also have needed to cart it over a metre-high fence and on to a truck or trailer along with a three-wheel bike they also stole and another inflatable toy - all in the glare of security lights and two barking dogs.
It was a cruel blow for the family after Patrick gave up his job in farm management about a year ago to help Leisha, 30, look after Aalya and their three other children, Paetyn, 10, Aspin, 7, and Brae 2, all of whom have the same condition as Aalya. They survive on a benefit, the children need constant health checks, and have been in and out of hospital regularly.
"We are just living day to day. We don't know what tomorrow's got in store for us," said Patrick.
But all's well that ends well.
Just as they were losing respect for their fellow human beings, along came Chris Mangan. The Hamilton man turned up at their home yesterday afternoon with a brand new swing set for the family.
"I really hate it when things happen like this and I'm lucky enough to be in a position where I could do something about it."
The new swing set is blue and silver and has a slide. Aalya sat on the box waiting patiently while the men assembled it.
Patrick said Chris' phone call came out of the blue and he was thrilled and grateful. "It's true, things like this really do restore your faith in humanity."
