Te Anau toddler Luka Pascoe dies after long cancer illness
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
As the end neared for cancer-stricken Luka Pascoe, the 3-year-old wanted one thing more than any other: “Cuddle from mumma.”
The Te Anau toddler died on July 16, in the arms of his parents after a two-year cancer illness and hundreds of hospital procedures.
Luka was diagnosed with stage three neuroblastoma cancer in May 2022, aged 18 months, and his parents were told he had a 50-50 chance of survival.
Luka’s parents, Toby and Katelyn, decided early on to write an online journal about Luka’s journey, with the blog containing both good and bad times over the next two years.
“We decided to share his story,” Toby said.
“Luka’s journal was a great platform to really bring awareness about cancer for children and what happens, because there’s not many diagnosed every year, about 130.”
Over the past two years the couple said they had received incredible support, particularly from people in Te Anau and Invercargill, some of which was driven by their decision to write the journal.
The communities of Te Anau and Invercargill raised $140,000 from fundraising events and a GoFundMe page raised $60,000, giving Luka’s parents the ultimate gift – time with their son.
“That allowed us to be off work, and Luka got basically 12 months of our undivided attention,” Toby said.
The value of that time was confirmed during Luka’s last days.
“The second last night before he passed, the only thing he said all day was ‘cuddle from mumma’.
“We learnt, it’s just love and time for a child, that’s all they need, they don’t need anything else. He knew we were all there, and he was ready to go.”
Toby and Katelyn said they were hugely indebted to everyone who supported them and raised funds so they could spend that time with Luka.
They also used Luka’s journal to raise $20,000 for the Ronald McDonald House, which played a huge part in looking after Luka and his parents.
Despite the endless treatments and hospital visits, their son was a happy, cheeky, strong and kind child, they said.
A trial drug prolonged his life and he got to meet his sister Oakley, who was born in January.
It was “really cool” watching the brother-sister relationship develop over six months, with Luka an attentive and proud brother.
Luka received 1300 “beads of courage” during his illness, each one representing a different procedure during treatment.
He took pride in his beads and wore them at special events.
“At his funeral they sat on top of his casket in a vase. They will be kept in his room forever,” his father said.
The couple thanked the medical staff at Southland and Christchurch hospitals, and left special praise for Luka’s four grandparents.
“Just them being around us and helping day-to-day has really kept us going.”
_*This story has been amended from an earlier version which said $200,000 was raised on GoFundMe. The page raised $60,000 and the communities of Te Anau and Invercargill raised $140,000 from fundraising events. Updated _July 24,_ 9.30am._