Diagnosed with terminal cancer a couple of years ago, there has been little joy in the life of the 44-year-old Coodanup resident in recent times.

And now, one of the things she relied on daily has been taken from her.

Sometime between last Thursday evening and Saturday morning Jo’s wheelchair was stolen from her back courtyard.

Her long-time carer and partner, Marlene Crowe, discovered the wheelchair was missing when she went to take Jo for a walk on the weekend.

“It’s really upset me,” Jo said.

“It gave me my independence.

“Now I can’t get out of the house.”

Jo said she tired very quickly and struggled to walk just a few steps.

Being outside in the fresh air and going for walks with Marlene was one of her favourite activities.

The wheelchair also came in handy during Jo’s frequent trips to the hospital.

Now house-bound and recently diagnosed with a secondary cancer, Jo, who also suffers from lupus, is devastated.

“My prognosis is not good,” she said.

“I’m pretty well doomed.”

Refusing to give up hope however, Jo said there were still plenty of things she wanted to do and was confident she would be “hanging around for a while yet”.

“She’s been fighting ever since she found out she was sick,” Marlene said.

“She’s got a tough heart.

“But now I can’t even take her outside for a walk.

“It’s awful for her.”

A former truck driver and fencer, Jo has always loved being outdoors and admitted to struggling with the limitations her illnesses have placed on her.

“I used to be very active,” she said.

“I was always on the move.

“You just couldn’t stop me before I got sick.”

Unable to afford a new wheelchair, the couple have managed to borrow one from the palliative care unit at the hospital.

Both Jo and Marlene are still hopeful the stolen wheelchair will be returned.

Someone’s got to have seen it,” Marlene said.

“I just hope we can get it back in one piece.”

“I used it all the time,” Jo said.

“I just can’t comprehend why someone would do this.

“I’m stuck in the house again now.

“It’s just terrible.”