05 Nov Luca

Luca and his twin brother were born prematurely at 26 weeks. Both boys spent the first four months of their lives in the NICU. And while his brother grew stronger, Luca faced complications, including mild cerebral palsy and hearing loss. Despite these early hurdles, Luca was a fighter. At eleven years old in 2021, he underwent surgery to improve his mobility. Tragically, a medical error during this procedure resulted in nerve damage, leaving him unable to walk.

“We spent countless hours at hospitals close to home trying to find answers,” Luca’s mom, Wendy recalls. “But when we came to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware for a second opinion, it was like a breath of fresh air. They truly listened to us.” Luca’s journey at Nemours has been a rollercoaster of both challenges and hope. After being in the Comprehensive Outpatient Rehab Program (CORP) in April, to suddenly needing emergency surgery in July, he has made significant gains considering the complexity of his journey. Now, Luca and his family are facing an optimistic road ahead.

Without the Ronald McDonald House, Wendy’s ability to provide the care Luca required would have been nearly impossible. The financial burden of hotels, meals, and travel expenses would have easily exceeded $400 a day. “As a single mom of twins who works full time, there was just no way. I thought to myself ‘how am I going to swing this?’” she recalls.

For Luca’s family, the Ronald McDonald House offered hope. “I felt such a sense of relief to know that this could actually happen and [we could] set Luca up for his future,” Wendy says fondly. “If we couldn’t stay here, I wouldn’t be able to do this for my child. I wouldn’t be able to financially afford it.” Wendy found support in the company of other families, even making plans to see a few of them outside of the House when they get discharged. Luca has also made some friends. Spending a summer as a fourteen-year-old in the hospital can be isolating, but being surrounded by other kids facing similar challenges has provided invaluable support. “He’s made some of his first friends here,” Wendy shared, “He’s been able to meet other kids like him.”

One of their most memorable moments at the House was Luca’s 8th grade graduation. Wendy asked for help from the staff, and the team quickly arranged a space for him to participate in the graduation over video conference. With Luca’s school sending over decorations and cupcakes, he was able to join the celebration and deliver a speech to his classmates who were gathered in the auditorium. Because of the Ronald McDonald House, he didn’t miss out on this important milestone.

Luca’s family is optimistic about the future. With Luca’s upcoming start in CORP, and a planned discharge around Thanksgiving, they look forward to rebuilding their lives at home. “I honestly just feel such a sense of relief and gratefulness that the Ronald McDonald House exists.”