When we think of childhood, we imagine laughter, boundless energy, and dreams waiting to bloom. Luca embodied all of that—he was fun and outgoing, a 5-year-old who loved being surrounded by friends and family.

Luca was the kind of child any parent would be grateful to have—kind, gentle, and full of love. His mum, Tori, was his world, and he was hers. And if you asked her, she’d say Luca was her perfect match, her only child, but a child with such spirit and joy that anyone would wish for ten like him. 

He loved his grandparents, adored his cousins, and had a passion for soccer—or as he proudly called it, "football".  

But in one tragic, unforeseen moment, Luca's life was forever changed. What started as an ordinary November day of putting up Christmas decorations, turned into a nightmare. Just the day before, Luca had been playing with his cousins, swimming and laughing. But in hindsight, Tori recalls subtle signs that were out of the ordinary. On the car ride back from visiting family, Luca, usually so full of energy, had slept the whole way. She thought he was just worn out from the excitement, not knowing it was the beginning of something much worse. 

The day they put up the Christmas tree, Luca was his usual joyful self, climbing into the box, jumping out to make her laugh. But soon, she noticed something troubling. Luca looked up at her and said, “My legs aren’t working. My feet aren’t working.” 

Luca was rushed to Wollongong Hospital. By the time they reached the emergency department, he could no longer sit. Hours later, an MRI confirmed the unthinkable - Luca had suffered a stroke, and he needed to be transferred to Sydney’s Children’s Hospital, Randwick by NETS helicopter. In a span of just 12 hours, Luca had gone from a vibrant child to critically ill. 

Over the next few days, a team of doctors, nurses, and specialists worked tirelessly to find answers, but the news was every parent’s worst nightmare. Luca’s stroke was metabolic in nature, a rare and severe neurological issue that would change his life permanently. They warned that Luca might never walk or talk again. As the days passed, Luca’s condition worsened. He developed dystonia, which caused excruciating muscle spasms, leaving him in near-constant pain.  

To help give his little body a break, Luca was transferred to ICU where he was placed in an induced coma. What was meant to be a few days stay, turned into 53 nights in ICU.  

The doctors continued to try everything to relieve his pain. Luca was even transferred by NETS ambulance to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead to undergo surgery to get on top of his pain management. But the dystonia was relentless. They lived this reality on repeat for eleven months. 

However, even on the darkest of days, there were small, miraculous moments of light. Music therapists would sing Luca’s favourite songs, like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” and his face would soften, recognising the familiar tune. Play and art therapists provided moments of relief, taking Luca’s handprints and turning them into artwork—small but priceless memories for his mum. These therapists were a lifeline, often managing to soothe Luca when even the strongest medication couldn’t. 

Just shy of his sixth birthday, Luca peacefully passed away, with his mum by his side. After he passed, Luca was taken to Bear Cottage, the only children’s hospice in NSW. Here, Tori was given the chance to spend a few extra days with Luca, surrounded by his favourite things, finding a small measure of solace in a place that felt safe and comforting. 

Luca’s funeral took place on the day of his sixth birthday. Instead of blowing out candles, his family and friends released colourful balloons in honour of is memory and his ICU nurses gave him a guard of honour – all in their Paw Patrol scrubs, one of Luca’s favourite characters.  

Nothing can prepare you for the loss of your child. But, for families like Luca’s, support from SCHF and their donors makes an enormous difference. The memory of Luca's gentle smile and bright spirit, his love for life, and the compassion of those who helped him will stay with his mum forever. Now, she wants to help change the future for other families who may be facing similar journeys.  

Your support could help fund groundbreaking research, transformative therapies, cutting-edge equipment and help families find moments of peace amidst the hardest journeys – because you never know when it’s going to be you or someone you know and love. 

It may have been too late for Luca, but together, we can honour his legacy and change the future for sick kids and their families.