Thieves take cancer patient's life line

The thieves who stole Leah Ratana's car may have thought they only took away her transport, but they've taken much more.

The loss of the car has taken away the elderly Rotorua woman's ability to get herself to her cancer treatments and help others with the same illness.

Mrs Ratana was diagnosed with cancer three years ago. Yesterday morning the car she relied on to visit and comfort others in the community was stolen from outside her flat.

The 1994 Subaru Imprezza was a gift from her 29-year-old niece, who could see the work her 64-year-old grandmother was doing was very important to her.

"She is an independent woman. Having the car has been a life line for her to do what she loves doing," her niece, Leah Ratana, said.

"I'm probably more angry than she is ... I worked hard for that car."

Her aunt, who lives alone, has had a mastectomy as a result of her cancer and was given four months to live about a year ago. Since then the cancer had spread to her bones, although nothing showed up in recent scans.

"I guess you could say I'm in remission, but I don't know."

As a result of her illness she gave up her work in the entertainment business, instead dedicating her time to comforting other elderly people in the community with cancer.

She was instrumental in setting up Te Waiora a Tane, a clinic adjacent to the Rotorua Hospital where alternative medicines like rongoa Maori (Maori medicine) and mirimiri (massage) are administered.

Now she can't get out to the people she has been helping. Her car wasn't insured either.

"I thought it was, but when I rang up they said only my life and house contents were covered."

Mrs Ratana said crime in her street had increased in the last couple of years and one recent night nearly every car in the street was broken into.

Her son, who sometimes stays with her, has had his car broken into twice.

Mrs Ratana said whoever stole her car was "the lowest".

"It's not fair when you work hard for your community and someone does this to you."

Anyone with any information should contact Rotorua police on 0800 TIPOFF.