The family of a Far South Coast Autistic teenager left in a critical condition after being run over has thanked locals who have donated to his fundraising campaign so far.
The GoFundMe page was set up by long time teacher and family friend Donna Jones, who is in regular contact with Luke Minett’s mum Lee-Ann who has had to stop working to be by his bedside.
Donna said they have already been forced to use some of the funds after being forced to relocate to Sydney while the Narooma High student recovers.
“It’s been really tough for them. I mean, they’re country folk. They don’t know the city. They’ve had to use Ubers to get around. They’ve had to try and locate themselves in a huge city that they have no idea how to get around,” Donna said.
“They haven’t been home accept Dad, Andrew has been home once just to kind of restock clothing and things like that but yeah, it’s been dreadful. It’s been absolutely dreadful for them,” she said.
“That all costs money, which no one had obviously planned to have aside and spend. They have had access to the GoFundMe page. When I think of my goal of $20,000 I now shake my head. That is not even gonna cut the mustard really because they’re using that money now to be away from home.
“To everybody that has donated I am eternally grateful. It has helped. In this crucial time but this crucial time has become a lifetime reality for Luke, and his family, and although 20 K has been really, really, really well received. We’re going to need a whole lot more. So if you haven’t donated and I understand families are struggling at the moment. I get that but if you haven’t donated and you possibly possibly could, any amount would be eternally grateful.”
In good news Luke has just been moved out of intensive care after having a foot amputated and his jaw wired among many surgeries at the Sydney Children’s Hospital.
“He’s still struggling coming to terms with his injuries, coming to terms with the fact that his life has changed forever. He’s trying to be really really strong but he needs so much more support as does his family,” Donna said.
“Luke is now on a ward but he’s still being tube fed because his little tummy could not tolerate food. He’s still learning how to operate with one leg. He’s still got issues with his jaw as well so there’s still a long road for him,” she said.
Luke can speak. He’s communicating emotionally. He was able to get in his wheelchair for the first time this week and go outside and reality hit him that, you know, I’m outside. Wow, you know, there’s another world outside my ward, and he became very, very emotional.”
“On top of that, there’s going to be prosthetic measurements and rehab and all sorts of things before it’s going to be safe for him to come home. Speaking of home, there needs to be some modifications done to his home in order to accommodate his wheelchair, crutches, just his whole home environment. That’s going to be ongoing you know as Luke grows. He’s a teenage boy so that’s going to be quite rapid.”
“It will be held at the Bermagui Country Club and I ask local businesses to support the event if they can including making donations for a silent auction as well,” Donna said.
“That is happening on May 2 so if you are a business owner, even the smallest of donations, for a silent auction, any piece of merchandise or anything that you could put together would be absolutely amazing,” she said.
“It will go a long way to help that family.”
