>> ALL RIGHT. TAKE A LOOK. THE MAN ON YOUR SCREEN STOLE A TIP JAR AND RODE AWAY ON A BIKE LAST SUMMER THAT JOHN R HAD OUT $2000 INSIDE THAT MONEY WAS SUPPOSEDO GO TO ANDREA BERNICK TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HER SON IN THE NEONAT INTENSIVE CARE UNIT A NOD TO CALLIE IS HEARING FROM THE MOTHER WHO'S HAD THOSE DONATIONS STOLEN AND HOW SHE AND HER BABY ARE DOING NOW. >> I SPOKE TO ANDREA HERE AT THE METRO DINER AND I COULD SEE THE PAIN IN HER EYES AS YOUR MEMBER WITH THE ACCUSED THIEF DID HERE OVER THE SUMMER. NOW SHE'S TRYING TO STAY STRONG FOR HER FAMILY AND HER JOB. >> IT'S STILL A MOMENT AWAY FROM US. ALMOST ANDREA BURNING CAN'T SHAKE THE MEMORY OF THIS MAN STEALING FROM METRO DINERS TIP JAR OVER THE SUMMER. THE $2000 INSIDE WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO HER TO HELP TAKE CARE OF HER PREMATURE BABY. BOY, IT'S NOT EVEN THE FACT THAT HE STOLE THE MONEY BECAUSE IF IT WAS FOR ANYTHING ELSE, OK, BUT YOU'RE STEALING FROM A BABY THAT'S FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE IN THE NICU THAT MAN IDENTIFIED BY CHARLIE COUNTY DEPUTIES AS CHRISTOPHER COSTLY SENIOR WAS ARRESTED OVER THE SUMMER. AND ANDREA IS GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET CAUGHT MY EYE. >> LOOK AT MEDIA SOMEBODY SHARE SOMETHING ON THE MOON IS LIKE YOU'RE GONNA GET CAUGHT EVENTUALLY THIEF DIDN'T STOP THE COMMUNITY'S DESIRE TO HELP T. THEY RAISE $14,000. >> SO SHE N TAKE HER MIND OFF THE THIEF IN FOCUS ON HER CHILD AND JUST HELP ME GET THROUGH AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY BILLS NOT BEING PAID OR MY ELECTRICITY BEING TURNED OFF OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. IT COULD JUST HELP TREMENDOUSLY WITH THE HOSPITAL BILLS. EVERY GREAT ANDREESSEN LEFT. AND NICK, YOU 6 MONTHS AGO TODAY, DOCTORS SAY HE'S DOING AMAZING AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HEALTHY, HE'S BEEN THRIVING IS GAINING WEIGHT. HE'S UP TO 15 AND A HALF POUNDS. NOW. HE WAS BORN AT 2 POUNDS. 12 OUNCES. >> AND I MEAN, HE'S HITTING EVERY MILESTONE THAT'S EXPECTED. IT'S THAT POSITIVITY THAT CONTINUES TO FEEL ANDREA SMILES NOT ONLY TO THIS COMMUNITY, BUT HER BABY BOY AS WELL REPORTING LOCAL I
Premature baby thrives in Port Charlotte after $2,000 summer tip jar theft
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Updated: 9:22 PM EST Jan 9, 2025
A baby boy who was born prematurely in Port Charlotte and spent nearly a month in the neonatal intensive care unit fighting for his life, the community raised $2,000 for the child only to have a thief steal that money at the Metro Diner along US-41.Six months later, that baby boy is thriving, and the community is bringing nothing but support.ABC7 spoke exclusively with Andrea Burdick, the mother of that child, Thursday afternoon.The pain in her eyes could still be seen as she remembered what the thief did over the summer. She is trying to stay strong for her job and her family."It's like it's stealing the moment away from us," Burdick said. Burdick can't shake the memory of the man stealing from the Metro Diner's tip jar over the summer. The $2,000 inside was supposed to go to her to help take care of her premature baby boy. "It's not even the fact that he stole the money, because if it was for anything else OK, but you're stealing it from a baby that's fighting for his life in the NICU," Burdick said.The man was identified by the Charlotte County Sherriff's Office as Christopher Costie Sr. He was arrested over the summer, and Andrea is grateful for that."I don't understand how you didn't think that you were going to get caught like, look at media now, somebody shares something on the news, like, you're going to get caught eventually, and he did," Burdick told ABC7.The theft didn't stop the community's desire to help out. They helped raise $14,000, so she could take her mind of the thief and focus on her child."It just helped me get through and not have to worry about my bills not being paid or my electricity being turned off or whatever the case may be, and it just helped tremendously with the hospital bills," she said. Burdick's son left the NICU six months ago. Doctors say he is doing amazing and, most importantly, is healthy."He's been thriving, and he is just gaining weight. He's up to 15.5 pounds now. He was born at 2 pounds, 12 ounces and, I mean, he's hitting every milestone that's expected," Burdick said. That positivity continues to fuel Burdick's desire to serve smiles, not only to this community, but also to her baby boy.
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — A baby boy who was born prematurely in Port Charlotte and spent nearly a month in the neonatal intensive care unit fighting for his life, the community raised $2,000 for the child only to have a thief steal that money at the Metro Diner along US-41.
Six months later, that baby boy is thriving, and the community is bringing nothing but support.
ABC7 spoke exclusively with Andrea Burdick, the mother of that child, Thursday afternoon.
The pain in her eyes could still be seen as she remembered what the thief did over the summer. She is trying to stay strong for her job and her family.
"It's like it's stealing the moment away from us," Burdick said.
Burdick can't shake the memory of the man stealing from the Metro Diner's tip jar over the summer. The $2,000 inside was supposed to go to her to help take care of her premature baby boy.
"It's not even the fact that he stole the money, because if it was for anything else OK, but you're stealing it from a baby that's fighting for his life in the NICU," Burdick said.
The man was identified by the Charlotte County Sherriff's Office as Christopher Costie Sr. He was arrested over the summer, and Andrea is grateful for that.
"I don't understand how you didn't think that you were going to get caught like, look at media now, somebody shares something on the news, like, you're going to get caught eventually, and he did," Burdick told ABC7.
The theft didn't stop the community's desire to help out. They helped raise $14,000, so she could take her mind of the thief and focus on her child.
"It just helped me get through and not have to worry about my bills not being paid or my electricity being turned off or whatever the case may be, and it just helped tremendously with the hospital bills," she said.
Burdick's son left the NICU six months ago. Doctors say he is doing amazing and, most importantly, is healthy.
"He's been thriving, and he is just gaining weight. He's up to 15.5 pounds now. He was born at 2 pounds, 12 ounces and, I mean, he's hitting every milestone that's expected," Burdick said.
That positivity continues to fuel Burdick's desire to serve smiles, not only to this community, but also to her baby boy.
