Luke Ryker's Healing Journey

This is Luke Ryker.  Luke is a 5 year old full of life, sweet and hilarious kid.  Doctors once told Luke's parents that there was a very high chance of Luke not surviving long enough to come into this world, and if he did survive through pregnancy, he may die shortly after birth.  But Luke did survive.  Since his little time on earth, he has currently undergone 11 surgeries andmay need another one soon.  This figher was born with hydrocephalus ( a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain, enlarging the head and sometimes causing brain damage). He was also born with a large VSD and ASD in which repairs started at 3 months of age.  Luke has also lived with a feeding tube that was placed at 3 months of age, before his first heart surgery. He has spent time at Baylor Feeding Clinic .  He also has exotropia and has had an eye surgery for repair.  He has had 5 heart surgeries.  Currently he is intubated, sedated and is in critically stable condition at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in  St. Louis.   His next heart surgery will be in the next 24-72 hours in which the doctors will once again repair his VSD.  At some point, Luke will be placed on a heart transplant list.  

Luke gets his strength and courage from his two parents, Billy and April Ryker, and big sister Lauren. Billy and April both work in fields where they get to help others every single day. Billy is a Captain for a local fire station and April is a nurse for a pediatrics clinic.

Along with financial support, we please ask for your prayers and encouragement.