The theft of donations for the family of an Oamaru toddler who was critically injured when a TV fell on him has left family and friends "heartbroken'' and "disgusted''.
On December 8, 17-month-old Daniel Milliken suffered critical brain injuries after a TV fell on him in his Oamaru home.
He was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital and then transferred to Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital.
His family had been prepared for the worst, after being told by doctors Daniel was unlikely to survive once ventilators were turned off.
But he defied the odds.
"Each and every day his family are so thankful to have him with them,'' Daniel's godmother, Sandy Annan, said.
A Facebook page scam - "Donations for Baby Daniel'' - was set up on December 10, two days after the accident.
"The family found out on the 17th that a lady had given $200 and they had never heard anything about it,'' Ms Annan said.
The stories kept coming.
"Another guy in Napier had donated $50,'' she said.
The family was "disgusted'' by the deceit of the person who set up the page and had no idea how much had been taken from unsuspecting donors.
The deception was made even more painful by the woman's association with the family, Ms Annan said.
"Their friendship goes back years. They were totally heartbroken that someone could have done something to them like that,'' she said.
"The thing that disgusts me about the [scam] is that we all went to Auckland to say our goodbyes ... and she's probably there on the same day on her donations page collecting money.''
Police are investigating.
Ms Annan has since set up a legitimate Give A Little Page.
More than $5895 had been given up to last night.
"It's really good. It's what they need,'' she said.
Daniel was making good progress with his recovery and had gone into The Wilson Centre, a child rehabilitation clinic in Auckland.
"He could be there from three weeks to three months, but lately he's been moving his neck and the other day Diane [Daniel's mother] put a toy on his bed and he leaned forward and started playing with it,'' she said.
"He's never going to be the same again, but hopefully he will be ... The main thing is that he's still here with us.''
Ms Annan was looking forward to having the family and her "little possum'' Daniel home in North Otago again soon.
Donations to Daniel's family can be made at:givealittle.co.nz/cause/danielmilliken
