Luke Myles Heart

Luke is an amazing 6 month old baby boy. He is a happy, bright and bubbly child who loves playing with his toys almost as much as he enjoys his milk and newly introduced solids.

Up until quite recently, he was a perfectly healthy child. His parents Lesha and Cillian had their worlds abruptly turned upside down when they were told he had a rare heart condition, upon bringing him to hospital when he had been unwell for an extended period following his immunisations.

Luke’s condition - Dilated Cardiomyopathy - is quite devastating as when it reaches a certain stage, a heart transplant can be the only path out of heart failure.

Besides all the risks, complications and difficulties involved with a heart transplant, the chances of getting a good match, and where you sit in “the queue”, means wait times can be very long with some patients not surviving to transplant.

Luke needs support for his long journey ahead, which is not available in Ireland. Over in the Freeman hospital in Newcastle England, his heart is now being supported by a mechanical pump called a VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) made by a company called Berlin Heart.

Although Luke’s parents still hope and pray for a miracle that his heart will heal given time, they are glad that he is in a place where he can get all the support that he needs.

Money donated will be used to cover additional living expenses incurred by relocating to, and living out of, a hospital in the UK while still having rent, bills and all the normal expenses to pay at home.

Any and all money left over will be re-donated to charities and organisations which have helped them along in their journey.

Luke’s parents would like to use the opportunity to implore everyone (who would feel comfortable doing so) to become organ donors. You will not need your organs when you are gone, but they could give the most precious gift of life to someone else.