Vic & Maria Bentvelzen R.I.P Luca Charlie

Hi,

My name is Breanna, I have been friends with Maria & Vic since high school.

They became parents to their beautiful baby boy Luca on 18/02/2022. He was the light of their life. Luca was born with a hole in is heart.

On the 21st February 2022, Luca got flown to Melbourne and had his first surgery on 22nd February only being 4 days old. Maria & Vic joined Luca a couple of days later once Maria got the all clear to fly. They had to stay in Melbourne longer than they had anticipated, with a few set backs. Luca was a fighter and he never gave up.

On the 20th of April 2022 they flew back to Adelaide and remained in the Women's & Childrens hospital, this became Luca's home. He was a strong little boy who would overcome all the obstacles that were thrown his way.

On the 20th of July 2022 Luca & Maria were flown back to Melbourne, while Vic got in the car and drove to Melbourne. On the 22nd July 2022 Luca went in for his heart surgery. Everything went to plan and he was in recovery well.

A few days passed and Luca had a few set backs, high temps, tube changing, cold, withdrawals from medication, but he never gave up. Always giving mum and dad smiles & cuddles. He became stable enough to be flown back home to Adelaide on the 8th of September 2022, where his recovery was rocky but Luca never gave up and kept fighting.

Luca became very unwell 19th September and within few days by the 29th September he had fluid in his lungs,liver,kidney & heart. 17 infusion medication, 2 chest drians, high temps and heart rate. This didn't stop Luca he kept fighting and slowly was pulling through fighting the odds, by the 2nd October his high temps & heart rate had settled, weaning of his medication was going well, fluid was draining well. Luca was happy, smiling, babbling away loving the raspberries from his dad. The next couple of days were good days, Maria got to cuddle Luca for the first time in nearly a fortnight, he was loving his mummy cuddles, chatting, giggling and looking around.

The 9th October Maria and Vic got the news that no parent should have hear. Luca became very unsettled, was having withdrawal, air around his lungs, in his chest cavity, heart rate was going up, they decided to sedated, too keep him comfortable and help his little heart, as the next few rolled over Luca wasn't getting any better and the Adelaide doctors had no further options to help Luca as his lungs we progressively getting worse. On the 12th of October Maria & Vic got told by the Melbourne hospital there was nothing they could do either, they needed to start thinking about palliative care.

A parents worse nightmare.

Sadly on Sunday 16th October 2022 Luca Charlie Bentvelzen passed away peacefully in his mum & dad arms. Leaving the first time parents absolutely heartbroken.

Maria and Vic are the most admiring parents. The strength that they have shown through this whole process is just incredible. Baby Luca only got to live 8 months, but he knew he had the most amazing and loving parents and that's what kept him going.

I'm making this GoFund me page to help them out with everyday living expenses & funeral cost they have been through so much and our help would make a huge difference for them in the next coming months which will be the hardest.

Thank you for taking the time to read their journey.

Much Love Breanna