Luka is a sweet little two-year-old boy who was born with a very serious congenital heart disease called tricuspid atresia with ventricular septal defects. That means only half of his heart was able to function at all, and even that half could not work well enough to keep him alive.

Tiny Luka spent the first five months of his life in a hospital, and at his bedside were the comforting presence of his loving and vigilant mom, Elizabeth, and his dad, Jacob. He was only a tiny four-day-old infant when he had his first major open-heart surgery, which had only a 30% hope of survival. Several times during those extraordinarily difficult months in the hospital, Luka was placed on life support called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Yet, Luka pulled through thanks to the grace of God, amazing medical care, countless prayers, and with his parents at his bedside.

Still hospitalized, Luka had his second open-heart surgery four months later. One month after his second surgery, he was finally able to come home for the first time. He had a feeding tube in place which needed continual care.

Luka is enjoying life now as a very happy two-year-old who loves his Mommy and Daddy. He is kind and sweet to his baby brother and his five-year-old brother. Still, there is much more very serious major heart surgery to come in his near future. He must have a surgery called a Fontan procedure. This procedure is palliative surgery for children such as Luka who only have one functioning ventricle due to tricuspid atresia. It will be performed to aid blood to get to Luka’s lungs more efficiently. He will be hospitalized out-of-state in California for at least two months for this surgery. If the outcome of that is good, he will then require a heart transplant.

Jacob and Elizabeth understand hard work, responsibility, sacrificing for the benefit of their family, and always doing their best. The financial impact of Luka’s surgeries and five-month hospitalization is huge and lasting. Jacob works two jobs seven days a week along with any other jobs he can get on the side. Elizabeth cannot pursue employment now while she diligently cares for Luka and his continuing medical needs, as well as for their two other young children. Despite how hard and long Jacob works, the couple cannot overcome the expenses they unavoidably incurred during Luka’s long hospitalization, as well as the added associated costs of Luka’s current ongoing medical care.

Jacob couldn’t bring himself to ask for any financial help from anyone; he and Elizabeth have always taken responsibility for their family’s needs themselves. Yet now, they are experiencing such deep financial stress that when we offered to organize a fundraiser for them, Jacob conceded that yes, this is the answer to their prayers.

To prepare for Luka’s next surgeries, Jacob and Elizabeth must somehow pay off their accumulating bills, provide for the children, and save for the heart surgeries that Luka must have soon.

Please help little Luka and his parents by donating whatever you can to help this very hardworking and loving family climb out from under their current crushing financial burden caused by medical-related costs, and prepare financially for Luka’s upcoming major surgeries.