Hi friends,

I want to share the story of my dear friends, Ben and Sofija, and their amazing little boy, Luka.

Luka came into this world with a challenge most of us could never imagine. He was born with gastroschisis, a rare condition where his intestines developed outside of his tiny body.

On his very first day of life, Luka was in surgery. That surgery began the long, careful process of placing everything back where it belonged. He spent a total of 72 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, Maine.

Those weeks were a rollercoaster. There were sleepless nights, anxious phone calls, and quiet moments of fear at Luka’s bedside. But there were also victories – first breaths without a tube, first successful feedings, and finally, the day Sofija and Ben got to hold their son without wires everywhere. Through it all, Luka fought hard. The NICU doctors and nurses cared for him like he was their own. And slowly, day by day, Luka grew stronger.

Today, Luka is 8 months old and thriving. He is hitting all his milestones, flashing the biggest smiles, and is truly one of the happiest babies I have ever met. Seeing him now, you’d never know just how hard he fought to get here.

But this beautiful ending came with a heavy price. Luka’s NICU stay and surgery left his family with $42,000 in medical bills. This GoFundMe is to help ease that burden so Ben and Sofija can focus on what really matters – enjoying every precious moment with their happy, healthy boy.

Any amount you’re able to give will make a real difference for this sweet family. And if you can’t donate, sharing Luka’s story helps more than you know.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and helping surround this family with love and support.