ANDALUSIA, Ill. - Diane Gilliland looked lovingly at her husband, Rick, and laid a supportive hand on his arm as he spoke of his dream to see the ocean one last time.

Over the past few years, as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, a progressive neuro-degenerative disease often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, slowly has pulled the strength from his body, the 54-year-old Andalusia, Ill., man has
been saving money to surprise his family with a vacation to the seashore.

"I knew he was saving, but I didn't know what it was for," Diane said

Thursday. Rick, who was stricken in 1997 with ALS, had not yet decided whether the destination would be Hawaii, or a handicapped-accessible resort in the Florida Keys.

But with $5,100 saved, either trip looked possible.

Now, after they discovered the money was missing from their bedroom this week, they are not sure when they will get another opportunity to fulfill Rick's dream.

And to make matters worse, a person has been charged with stealing the money, a caretaker of Rick's who the family had come to trust as a friend.

"I'm shocked, hurt, disappointed and angry - I thought we were buds," Rick said of Jeffrey Allen Wright, 35, of Moline, a caretaker with Visiting Nurse and Homemaker Association, offered through Trinity Regional Health System.

Wright has been charged with felony theft for allegedly stealing the money.

The Gillilands said Wright quickly became like part of the family after spending almost every day since July caring for Rick's basic needs.

"This is a man who endeared himself to our family - he was more than a caretaker, we considered him a friend," Diane said.

"One day, (Wright) didn't have an appointment after mine, so he stayed, and we popped in a video and had a pop and snacks," Rick said.

Andalusia police officer Tim Spates said Wright initially was arrested for driving while suspended, and then was questioned about the theft. Later, he was charged with the felony count of theft.

Spates gives the Gillilands, who set up a camcorder to try to catch the thief in action, for helping lead police to the suspect in less than 24 hours.

For them, who initially thought of not telling the police and just "asking for the money back," they said catching the person was not a rewarding experience.

"It changes the way you look at people," Diane said. She said their homeowners' insurance policy probably will end up getting them only about $200 of their money back.

"Visiting Nurses said their people are bonded and licensed as well, but I'd be really surprised if we get the full amount back," she said.

The family said they will use the same agency again because Wright likely was screened but had no previous criminal history. Most importantly, the Gillilands said they want to let the public know that it is not just elderly people who can be taken advantage of.

And they want Wright to know the pain he has caused their family.

"I hope to make a statement at his sentencing because he needs to know what he's done to us," Diane said. "We don't have many vacations to look forward to."

As for Rick, he said his family has received a great deal of support from friends, co-workers and even strangers throughout his illness. And they still believe in the goodness of people.

"Jeff has good qualities," he said. "I'm not sure what his motivation was here, maybe he felt he had a good reason to take the money. But I had a good reason to save it - and the difference is, I earned it."