A family has been left heartbroken after the theft of their sister's birthday presents as she lay in hospital.

Ruby Mai Porter, from Weymouth, suffers from an extremely rare and incurable neurological disorder that doctors have so far been unable to identify.

She is currently at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London and has been in intensive care due to an infection.

Her 22-year-old sister Pearl and mum Michelle, who are now staying in Kent to be closer to Ruby, visit her daily.

She recently celebrated her 20th birthday, a huge milestone for Ruby and her family.

But the joy was soon met with heartbreak after the family returned to their car to discover it had been broken into and all of Ruby's birthday presents had been stolen.

Pearl said: "We had all been to celebrate Ruby's birthday, she had an amazing day and loved all her presents and cards. We kept them in the hospital with her for a couple of weeks and then we moved them to my car to take home.

"I parked my car in the square near the hospital at about 10.30am on Sunday (17). My mum came back to the car at about 1.30pm and saw that the window had been smashed and everything had been taken - Ruby's presents, cards, clothes, shoes and my handbag which had Ruby's Pandora bracelet in it."

Pearl has now launched a JustGiving page to be able to replace what was stolen as well as to fix her car.

She also wants to raise enough money to give Ruby some days out when she is eventually well enough to come home. It has been more than seven months since Ruby was able to leave the home or hospital and with her condition getting progressively worse, Pearl is keen to make as many memories as possible.

Ruby was taken to Dorset County Hospital in April following a seizure, before then being transferred to London a week later.

She recently suffered nine seizures an hour for two days, before undergoing a brain biopsy. She has since then been battling infections.

Professionals working on Ruby's case recently held a meeting with more than 30 doctors from around the world attending. They agreed the next step forward for Ruby is an aggressive round of steroids.

Pearl said: "Ruby was once able to do everything I could do. She was intelligently bright and loved sports, she wanted to be a wrestler.

"She now can't walk or talk and is PEG fed. She has been battling this for so long but she doesn't seem to let it get her down. She's always smiling, she's a fighter.

"We don't know how long we have left with Ruby, time is very precious. This could have been her last birthday and I don't want it to end like this.

"We gave up our jobs to be with Ruby and help look after her so I can't just go back out and buy more presents. We're all absolutely devastated by what happened.

"Although I cannot get back the sentimental things that have been taken away, I will try my very best in getting back what I can. I try to make each day count as I never know when I’m getting the dreaded news of my sister passing away."

Pearl added: "I get up every day and try and be positive. We've all been through so much and for this to have happened to my sister is absolutely harrowing."

To donate visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pearl-porter-4?utm_id=125