Michael Jordan replaces family’s signed jersey stolen from home after fire

Michael Jordan is sending a new signed jersey to a family who lose theirs in a fire.

Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Michael Jordan is sending a new signed jersey to a family who lose theirs in a fire.

A family received a surprise from NBA legend Michael Jordan after one of his signed jerseys was stolen from their home when it burned down in October.

Officials with the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office said the family was forced out of its Rock Creek, Wisconsin, home on Oct. 11 when it caught fire.

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Authorities said a family member went to the house on Nov. 2, after the fire, and noticed two men behind it with a vehicle. The family member told officials that the men said they were looting the house and then left with a garbage can full of items.

Authorities said they later arrested one of the men.

According to officials, a signed No. 45 Michael Jordan jersey was among the items taken by the men and is believed to have been sold.

The Star Tribune reported Monday that the family's daughter, Kelsey Schiel, got the item signed by Jordan at his Chicago restaurant in 1995. The meetup was coordinated by Starlight Children's Foundation, an organization that supports hospitalized children and their families. At the time, Schiel was battling a life-threatening illness. Now 28, she has beaten the disease that she now likes to keep private.

“It’s devastating to know that someone stole such an important item,” Schiel said. “I really hope that whoever has it realizes its importance and turns it in. We won’t ask questions; it’s just really special to me.”

According to the Star Tribune, Jordan heard about the robbery and is having the jersey replaced.

“Michael was very sorry to hear about what happened to the Schiel family and was happy to send Kelsey a new signed jersey,” a representative for Jordan said.