Granite Falls family has thousands in donations for teen with cancer stolen

GRANITE FALLS, Wash. — Janis and her husband Tony Downs showed us a beautiful family photo at one of those benchmark moments in life -- their daughter Chloe’s Granite Falls High School graduation.

Flanked by her two sisters and her parents, Chloe Downs stood proudly in cap and gown, holding her diploma.

%

%

But three days before that photo Chloe and her family learned she has stage 4 cancer in her soft tissue; doctors made a 10-inch incision in her leg for a biopsy, yet Chloe walked -- unassisted -- to get her diploma and stood with her family, a smile on her face.

“We keep hearing that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle,” Tony told us, smiling through tears.

The Downses are staying amazingly positive -- after Chloe not only had to put off college to undergo nearly a year of chemotherapy, but now have had thousands of dollars in cash and gift cards they intended to use during their weekly stays at Seattle Children's Hospital -- all raised by the people who love them -- stolen in a smash-and-grab theft.

“They basically tapped it and punched it out and reached around,” Janis explained, describing what happened to the rear window of her vehicle.

It happened during a Granite Falls High School football game.

%

%

“A lot of money,” Janis said of what was taken. “I had just cashed a couple checks, we had my cousin did a fundraiser for us in Oregon.”

That check alone was about $1,000 dollars. And yet the Downses remain steadfast.

“I’m trying not to let things get to me,” Tony told us.

So the words “Strength and dignity” on the shirts made for Chloe -- the product of another fundraiser -- are only fitting.

In the perfect display of strength and dignity the Downses have only to say for the thief:

“The first thing that crosses my mind is I hope they need it more than we do,” Janis concluded.

The good news is there may be surveillance footage of the suspect; the school has a camera pointed towards the lot where Janis parked and she says it is likely the gas station where someone attempted to use her stolen credit card the night of the theft has surveillance as well.

In the meantime the family has started a donation page for Chloe. To contribute visit this link.

Cox Media Group