Luke's Funeral and Medical Expenses

We’re at my son’s house now. It was a long, slow moving day. At 5 pm the surgical team led us and Luke out of the room in ICU to the elevators and down to the 3rd floor. Everywhere we walked we passed Nurses, Drs,, staff and visitors lined up to pay their respects to Luke and his family. Then down the elevators to the 1st floor and once again passing so many people paying their respects. They played 3 of Luke’s favorite songs as they wheeled him down the halls, Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum, Hooked on a Feeling by Blue Swede and ABC’s by the Jackson Five. Over 200 crying hospital staff had heard about Luke and he somehow touched them all without even talking to him. As we came to the doors of the operating room we had to say our goodbyes so they could take him inside to remove his donor organs. It was hard to let him go but we finally did it. Now, we’ll move on slowly, one step at a time. We felt the love of all of you that paused at 5:00 today and thought of him. We’re thankful for all of you and your support through these very difficult days.

Love,

Luke’s Family

July 17th: Please keep Luke and our family in your thoughts and prayers. Today, Wednesday July 17th, 2024, at 5:00pm, at CHOC Mission Viejo, Luke will be given the “Walk of Honor” on his way to the operating room for his organ donation. Luke would be very proud to help others out. ❤️

July 14th: With a heavy heart and great sadness Jennifer announced the death of Lucas James Alvernaz. He passed away on July 14th, 2024. He was only 16 years old.

Over the Holiday weekend Luke had an allergic reaction and was rushed to the hospital. This is an update about his condition from his Grandmother.

July 10th: Update on Luke. We just met with the medical team here at CHOC at Mission.

We just got out of the meeting with the Drs, nurses and team. The plan is still to wean him off the versed. Have him wake up, remove the breathing tube when safe, and assess what he can and can’t do. They said the area of the brain that hold his memories was not damaged. The occipital lobe had some damage but it doesn’t look severe. That’s the part that controls vision. We won’t be able to see how much of that was affected until after he wakes up. They also mentioned the area that controls motor movement was affected but we’ll need to see how he does after waking up. I recorded the conversation and will have to relisten cuz there was more but my brain is on overload. He’s going to need therapy also simply cuz he’s been lying stiff. But until he wakes up and starts moving and talking we don’t know what all he’ll need. The drs said we’ll probably be here for 2 to 3 more weeks at least. Then we’ll have to get him home safely which they’ll help arrange and they’ll help arrange all the therapy he’ll need. Bottom line is we won’t know much til he wakes up. But he’s alive, his organs look great, his brain has minor damage and he’ll have his memories still with him. It will be up to him to show us what he can do.