Elisa “Lissy” Polak is heartbroken.
The mother of four’s purse was stolen from her vehicle Oct. 30 outside of her Hammond home as she was bringing packages inside.
But it’s not the purse, the money, her credit cards or other contents that she wants back. The purse contained an SD card with photos and video, the only video she has of her late infant daughter, Amiyah, in the first month of her life before she was hospitalized. The infant died in 2016 when she was just 3 months old.
“This SD card had in my purse means more to me than any type of money, credit cards, anything else that was in there,” Polak said.
Amiyah was born with an undiagnosed genetic birth defect. While the defect would have been treatable, it was not discovered by the first two hospitals that took care of Amiyah, Polak said. By the time the third hospital and the defect was suspected, they could do nothing but confirm the condition in an autopsy.
“We all fought really hard then, so these photos on the SD card I had in my purse kind of my way of carrying her around with me,” Polak said.
She chokes up trying to talk about Amiyah. She currently has three daughters at home, Mileena, 9, Dilylah, 3, and Kairi, 2. Still the loss of Amiyah weighs heavy on her heart and that of her husband, Andrew.
Polak posted the theft on a Hammond social media page imploring the thief to return the SD card.
“I’m sure to the thief, it doesn’t mean anything to them. They probably tossed it. Even if that’s the case, just tell me where. I just want it back. I know it was a long shot putting on social media, but doing something is better than nothing,” Polak said.
She was surprised and overwhelmed by the comments and the shares as the community rallied around her offering suggestions to track down the thief and words of support and encouragement.
“I’m really thankful to everybody helping for me,” Polak said.
She’s been able to track some of the purchases made before her credit cards were canceled. Whoever took her purse ordered $60 worth of pizza from Little Caesar’s via Uber Eats. They ordered a Lyft, some online games and made purchases at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Polak said she is hopeful the police will be able to help subpoena information from the places where the purchases were made so the thief can be tracked down.
Lt. Steve Kellogg, public information officer for the Hammond Police Department, said unfortunately it is still too short of a time period to say much about the investigation.
“It will take them more time to put stuff together. I would just say that detectives will do everything they can to help her recover the stolen items,” Kellogg said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the detective bureau at 219-852-2906.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
