Meet Luke

Meet Luke, a regular 5 year-old boy who loves lego! He also happens to have an auto-immune condition that results in severe muscle weakness. He was recently very unwell and was in ICU at the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, and his state of health meant that although conscious, he was unable to communicate for a period of time. As you can imagine this was very tough for him and for his family.

When you are a seriously ill 5 year-old boy, the stress if all the uncertainty, and health care workers constantly invading your personal space, can really take its toll. It’s completely understandable that kids often resist treatment or physio, as Luke did. Suzanne, Luke’s mum, has been using positive reinforcement to get him to cooperate. We thought we could help by providing an incentive that would spark a bit of excitement, but we also wanted to include his little brother Adam, as he has also been struggling with everything that’s been going on.

TLC for kids provided: 2 City building sets with trucks and motorbikes for Luke and a Duplo Box of bricks for Adam, plus a Lego Art Carousel for the boys to share. And for something extra special – 2 Dinosaur sets for Luke and a Feeding at the Zoo set for Adam. After receiving the surprise, Suzanne sent us this message:

Dear TLC for kids,

I want to send my sincere thanks to you for making Luke’s stay at the children’s hospital a happier one. Luke’s had a 6 week stay with two weeks in ICU and a lot of tests and procedures done on him in such a short period of time but getting the Lego turned his days into happier ones and loved coming back to his room to build some more.

Adam loved getting a gift as well he wasn’t left out and felt important too, and that he deserved a present as well because his experience through this was just important as Luke’s and both children needed to know that even though things have changed for a little while there are lots of people thinking of them and worrying about them.

Luke still talks about the day he got the Lego and how nice it was that he got that present.

Thank you also for the early Christmas present Luke was so excited to see the trashies he wanted to buy some on the way home. The car garage has gotten a good workout and the Lego is always a winner. It was the best was to end out stay at the hospital.

TLC for kids is an amazing charity brightening the days of the sickest little children giving them something special to distract them whilst in hospital.

Thank you,
The Downing family