Meet Lucas, my beautiful great-nephew who lives in Bega. Lucas is now five years old — the sweetest, happiest little man you could ever meet. He has a smile that lights up every room and a heart full of love.

Lucas is a true little Aussie warrior, living with Level 5 Cerebral Palsy caused by a Grade 4 brain bleed at birth, along with multiple other complex medical conditions including epilepsy and cortical blindness.

Throughout his short life, Lucas has spent more than a year in and out of hospitals. Most recently, he’s spent four months in a hospital bed due to the need for multiple emergency brain surgeries — eight in total — while being six hours away from home in Bega.

Lucas’s Story

Lucas was born prematurely at 27 weeks during the 2019 bushfires in the rural town of Bega, NSW.

His mum Sienna went into spontaneous labour while evacuating their home and trying to get their animals to safety. Lucas was born at Bega Hospital, which didn’t have the proper neonatal equipment to care for a baby born so early.

For 11 heartbreaking hours, he was hand-ventilated by medical staff, wrapped in glad wrap to keep him warm, as no emergency services could reach them due to the surrounding bushfires and smoke.

Against all odds, Lucas survived — proving from day one that he’s a fighter.

Why We’re Asking for Help

Lucas’s devoted parents, Sam and Sienna, have never received any compensation or charitable assistance. They’ve always believed that “there’s always someone worse off.” But after everything they’ve endured this year, they truly need help.

In July, they faced every parent’s nightmare — a 3am emergency transfer to Sydney Children’s Hospital when a CT scan revealed Lucas’s VP shunt had blocked, requiring emergency brain surgery. Since then, there have been multiple complications and additional brain bleeds.

The financial and emotional toll has been enormous. Supporting Lucas during his hospital stays has already cost the family over $20,000, including accommodation, travel, and lost income. Sam had to return to work shortly after the first surgery, while Sienna remains Lucas’s full-time carer in their one-income household.

How You Can Make a Difference

Every single donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards:

• Accommodation, meals, and transport for family members traveling from Bega

• Ongoing medical care and aids to help Lucas adjust when he returns home

• Emotional and practical support for Sam and Sienna after months of trauma

• A wheelchair-accessible vehicle for daily transport and hospital visits

Lucas and his family are incredibly grateful for any support — whether that’s a donation or simply sharing his story to help us reach more people.

Together, we can give Lucas the comfort, care, and freedom he deserves.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts