In January 2020, 17-year- old bricklaying student Luke suffered a rare arteriovenous malformation (AVM), requiring life-saving surgery at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. Left with profound disabilities, including limited movement and communication through blinking, Luke faced additional challenges during the pandemic, with COVID restrictions hindering family visits.

On December 13, 2019, Luke was diagnosed with type Y meningococcal meningitis, leading to severe inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. Rushed to Sheffield Children’s Hospital due to septicaemia, he underwent multiple surgeries, including limb removal and extensive skin grafts covering 50% of his body. Enduring 23 surgeries in ten weeks, Luke spent almost five months in the….