I make lots of buttons and I hear lots of stories. While every story touches my heart ~ some hit really close to home. Luke Ball's story touched me personally for a couple of reasons. First I too have a heart problem (nothing close to what Luke's been through) just a bum valve that will require a valve replacement at some point. Its still scary though and I only hope I'll be half as brave as this little guy!
The other thing is Facebook. I'm a big fan - I've connected with some amazing new people and reconnected with friends. I learned about Luke after stumbling upon my elementary school chum Mike Breen on Facebook. I hadn't talked to Mike in years but remember roaming the halls of Our Lady of Fatima school and then Iona Prep.
Mike's posts about Luke were so the passionate that at first I thought Luke was Mike's son. I understand Mike's passion now as I see the impact Luke has made on so many people who know him - heck half the Detroit Tigers starting rotation is sporting buttons!
But this isn't about me or Mike or buttons - it's about a brave young man ~ here's just a little bit of what he's been through the past year (from Luke's CarePages profile)
"Luke Ball is a 6 1/2 year old boy who was born with a complex congenital heart defect, but is now has successfully recovered from a heart transplant. After spending 2 months in the hospital waiting, he received his gift on Dec 29, 2010.
Luke has undergone surgical palliation with a pulmonary artery banding and then was followed by a bidirectional caval shunt with further tightening of his PA band (hemi-Fontan surgery). Due to continued enlargement of his right ventricle, they attempted unsuccessfully to close the band via cardiac catherization, and subsequently underwent ligation of his main pulmonary artery. During the 11 hour catherization and surgical procedure he suffered a stroke, but has fully recovered...more"
Luke's had a tough road and he's going to face challenges going forward ~ but I get the feeling Luke has that indomitable spirit and courage... kinda like another "Lu" Lou Gehrig who in spite of the odds still considered himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth - the Tigers made me think baseball and I think this courageous video is fitting...
I hope you'll consider wearing a Button of Hope in support of Luke - I know he loves seeing everyone post pictures wearing his button on Facebook @ Friends of Luke. Please spread the word on Facebook and Twitter let's get hundreds of people all over world to post pictures knowing that each post is a smile for Luke! Order your button right here >> http://budurl.com/LukeBallGotHeart
