At the age of 18, the baby Luca has endured more than most people in their lives will do.
Australian parents Ashleigh and Cody welcomed their young son in just 33 weeks – six weeks ago than expected – and nothing could have prepared them for what would happen in the next 11 months.
Luca, who was born on November 9, the day after his mother’s baby’s shower, entered Charge World With Charge, a genetic condition affecting the heart, nerves, genitals, eyes and ears.
Red flags first appeared in Ashleigh’s 20 -week scan when she was told she could have been “too wrong” with Luca, but the results from subsequent tests did not give up until the day he was born.
“It was a very terrible experience,” she told news.com.au, adding that because he arrived so early, “we weren’t sure if he would do it.”
“He was inside and outside the hospital for a long time, he had eight surgeries,” she said.
The family has been staying at sea with Cody’s income after Ashleigh left her job to take care of Luca around the clock, with the little boy who had spent more time in the hospital than outside.
A Gofundme was recently created in support of the family which will undoubtedly face years of challenges in their efforts to give Luca the beautiful life it deserves.
“He has had many complications with his brain. He has two shunts on each side, but they both were blocked and needed cleaning, and they also replaced the valves,” Ashleigh said.
“He can’t eat, so he has a nourishing tube,” she added, saying he was on the waiting list for a new device that would allow him to get food inside his belly button.
His short life has been punished by tremendous difficulties, including the time he almost died in the hospital after vomiting for five days straight.
“It’s been terrible, but you have to be just strong for her. Sometimes I have my moments and ask,” Why do we? “But at the same time, he obviously chose us for a reason,” Ashleigh said.
Despite the extraordinary battle, Luca’s bright personality has excelled.
“He is the most cut little boy, he is very happy taking into account everything he has gone through,” his mother said.
“Of course there will be many more obstacles as life goes on,” she added.
Luca sleeps with oxygen and monitors at night because it often stops breathing completely, and requires constant support specialized in the form of things such as professional therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy.
“As he ages, we do not know how he will go with his speech or movement, and we do not know what his vision is,” Ashleigh said.
“He may need more brain and heart surgery in the future or work on his genitals, we really don’t know what his future holds.
“We hope he lives a long life. But you just don’t know.”
The family has been appreciating their time with Luca, who has now been out of the hospital for seven months.
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Image Source : nypost.com