Vania Bruner embraces her son, Luke, 7, Wednes-day at their home after school. On Wednesday morning, just before Luke was going to board the school bus, his walker, valued at ,200, was stolen from the sidewalk outside their home, Vania Bruner said.

A Lawrence mother is hoping for the speedy return of a walker her son needs to cope with his debilitating disorder.

The device, valued at $1,200, was stolen Wednesday morning as 7-year-old Luke Bruner was getting ready to board the school bus, his mother, Vania Bruner, said.

“That’s his legs,” Vania Bruner said of the walker her son relies on.

Vania Bruner and her two sons, Luke and Logan, have the physically debilitating Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder. It is a neurological disorder that affects the sensory and motor nerves and leads to muscle weakness and atrophy. CMT patients slowly lose normal use of their feet, legs, hands and arms.

To Luke, the specialized walker that he has owned since April is the key to mobility.

“He’s an independent little guy, and he wants to be able to get up and go,” said Kalli Sanders, service coordinator with The Arc of Douglas County.

About 7 a.m. Wednesday, a paraprofessional was helping Luke get out of the house to meet the school bus to Kennedy School. The paraprofessional set the walker in front of the house near the sidewalk before returning to the house. Within minutes, the walker was gone, Vania Bruner said.

“At first, I didn’t think it was true,” Vania Bruner said. “It was just so fast.”

She hopes the walker will be returned and, she said, time is a factor.

Replacing the specialized walker can take several weeks, Vania Bruner said.

Luke uses a wheelchair for longer distances, but uses the walker most of the time. The walker allows him to get around in an upright position, Vania Bruner said. She said if he doesn’t use his muscles, they will weaken faster and he’ll begin to experience falls.

The walker is blue with a black fold-up seat, has black and silver forearm support and red knobs. The name “Luke” is on the front bar.

The family will accept the walker in any condition. Anyone with information about the walker or anyone who finds the walker should call Lawrence police at 832-7501.