Holding on to hope

He spent the first four months of his life on an incubator with his devastated mother Mandy praying she wouldn’t lose a second son.

Following surgery for a heart problem Luke made a remarkable recovery, though earlier this year he and his family were dealt another major blow when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Mandy (33) told the ‘MAIL’: “When Luke was about six months old I noticed he would sort of stay in the one place.

“The minute you’d put him up he’d just throw himself back again. After many appointments, I was told Luke had cerebral palsy.”

The family have started a fundraising campaign to send Luke to Scotland for ABR treatment.

Mandy said: “Nobody can say whether he will or won’t walk. Every case of cerebral palsy is different. What he will be getting if we can raise enough money is treatment specific to his needs.

“I’m hopeful it can help. You have to hope.”

Luke and his twin brother Tyler had been born prematurely at 24 weeks. Tyler passed away in his mother’s arms at just three days old while Luke battled for life on an incubator.

Luke’s recovery was remarkable and Mandy said, apart from his physical difficulties he was like any normal two-year-old who enjoyed football and cartoons.

Luke’s family need to raise £6,000 for the treatment.

A sponsored walk is planned for Lurgan Park as well as street collections.

Money can also be donated through justgiving.com/lukesdestination or by texting LUKJ99 to 70070 followed by an amount, eg to give £5 text ‘LUKJ99 5’ to 70070.