The Dutch Destroyer
Lukas was a beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed boy who was extremely active and strong, and so very loving! From the time he was just a toddler, he was a daredevil! By the age of just 3 he was riding a bike with no training wheels and terrifying his mother. He loved growing up with 3 older brothers and lived for roughing around with them. All of them would agree, Lukas was always the toughest and most brave. His greatest loves in life were football and family. Lukas was a talented, passionate football player, and a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan. As tough as he was, he had the most tender, non-judgmental and accepting heart. Lukas excelled and thrived in any situation he was faced with, seemingly fearless. Down to his very last words, Lukas was always worried about everyone else.
LUKAS’ STORY : Our Lukas was diagnosed in April, 2016 with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, at the age of 8 years old. He started out with a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his abdomen, and the cancer was also in the lining of his stomach. He was facing a difficult treatment plan including a year of chemotherapy, in addition to radiation. Almost immediately after diagnosis, things took an extremely fast, terrible turn for Lukas. His young body went through nightmare after nightmare. He spent time in a medicinal coma and almost a month with a breathing tube in. Eventually, his tumor was removed. By that time, it had grown to the size of a football. Lukas had to go through physical therapy to learn how to stand and walk again, and regain his strength.
After completing his yearlong treatment, Lukas went in for end of treatment scans. Devastatingly, we found that the cancer was back, and later found that this time, it had spread. Lukas was determined that he would no longer be held back by cancer. Quickly a new treatment plan began that sadly Lukas was not responding to. After an incredibly courageous battle, and a fight that he never gave up on, Lukas tragically passed away in his mother's arms on June 12, 2017, just four days after his tenth birthday.