ENCINITAS, Calif. (KGTV) -- A break-in could deny a grandmother and cancer patient's lifelong dream.

On Friday afternoon, at her home in the Olivenhain area, Nirmal Batras returned home to a mess.

A window had been pried open. Nearly 20 pieces of gold jewelry were missing. Among the pieces, her entire dowry from her marriage in India in 1961.

Batras was diagnosed with leukemia in June. A week ago, she had taken out many of the pieces from a safe deposit box, in hopes of handing out the jewelry to her four children and six grandchildren on her birthday this Friday. A tradition her family has kept for generations.

"My heart is broken," Batras said.

The family does have insurance, but Batras calls the pieces irreplaceable.

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