CHAMPLAIN -- Earlier this week, Michele Phaneuf noticed that her daughter's bike was missing.

Though that kind of theft is hard on any parent or child, the loss of this particular bike was especially upsetting. That's because it belonged to a 7-year-old girl who lost her sight about three years ago when a rare brain tumor severely damaged her optical nerves.

Most of the benign tumor was later removed, and Abigail Phaneuf has since become accustomed to using her other senses to help guide her through daily activities.

She is now learning braille and steadily progressing at her reading skills, her mom said.

And as the weather warms, Abby was hoping to spend a lot of time outside riding her specially made bike with the help of her 11-year-old brother, Joshua.

"She wants to go out and play a lot. She's a really independent and active little girl," Mrs. Phaneuf said Thursday afternoon.

But earlier this week, the bike disappeared from outside their home at 1214 Main St.

"A friend of the family had made her a homemade tandem bicycle," Mrs. Phaneuf said. "I had it out back, and now it's gone. Somebody made that specially for her, and we don't want to let it go. My little girl has lost enough the last few years."

She noticed the bike was missing Tuesday and is now hoping the public can help her find it.

"It was made for a purpose, and for somebody to go in my back yard and take it is just unbelievable. She's been through so much in her little life, and this just really bothered me."

She said Abby cried when she heard the bike was missing.

The family decided to call State Police about the theft, and officials said they are actively investigating its disappearance and hope it will be returned soon.

The Chazy-based trooper who's handling the investigation said he began conducting interviews the day the bike was reported missing and planned to canvass the community in search of the bike again Thursday.

Police said the bike is a yellow and blue mountain bike that has a red rear attachment with handle bars and an extra-wide seat for Abigail. Police said the attachment can be removed.

Anyone with information about the bike is asked to call Chazy-based State Police at 846-7476 or the Plattsburgh barracks at 563-3761.