STELLARTON - Luke Holley-Reddick's Flight for Sight is in a holding pattern right now, but expects to be underway soon.
Luke's mom, Jody Holley, said that she was aiming for a September departure to China for medical treatment for her son but that will likely be pushed back to October now.
"We just got the hard copy (of Luke's MRI) on Wednesday and forwarded it to China. Everything's still the same. If things would have changed it might have affected our trip to China."
Jody said she has received encouragement from her doctor in China in the lead-up to the trip.
"Dr. Zhang said she can't guarantee anything but she's very confident."
Luke was born with optic nerve hypoplasia - a condition where the optic nerve doesn't develop properly prior to birth and the child is visually impaired.
Luke's family is planning to take him to China to receive stem cell injections which stimulate the optic nerves' growth.
They're pricey treatments, the eight injections will run about $45,000 and the family will have to stay in China for six weeks while Luke has treatment.
"We have a little over $51,000 right now…It's kind of on hold right now. It's an ongoing fundraiser. We're have another dance and yard sale in mind."
The fundraising goal for Luke's Flight for Sight is $75,000.
Luke turned 17 months old on Friday and is quite the happy-go-lucky guy. He could be heard laughing and carrying on in the background during a phone interview.
"He is wonderful. He is learning so many things - (saying) Mom, Dad, Nanny and Papa. He's really active," Jody said with a laugh.
Jody said even with all the attention, Luke always has a smile on his face.
"He's met thousands of people over this time and everybody adores him."
Jody has received plenty of attention too in the form of phone calls from interested parents.
"We get calls from all over the world wanting to talk and wanting to relate. There's not many other cases around…They want to find out why I made the decision I made."
She recently had contact with a mother from Calgary who just moved to Yarmouth and is pursuing all-natural treatment for her son in Miramichi, N.B.
Near the goal
Near the goal
- Published on August 31st, 2009
- Published on December 30th, 2009
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Staff ~ The News
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Comments
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- Stupid Flanders
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:50:54
Martin - The interview said Luke's family...that would normally mean the mother and father right?
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- bettyboop
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:32:52
this picture makes me smile
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- Belinda
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:20:49
We are watching for updates all the time...My daughter keeps doing the math each time we get new numbers. Jody and the many many Pictou County folks have come together because of the big hearts they have, and a very determined friends and family of Luke. Just look at those two smiles in that picture today!
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- warlock
- - January 18th, 2010 at 12:04:34
yu two are awsome. best of luck.
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- Lee
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:55:40
Good luck Luke, I hope everything works out for you! It will be interesting to see the results of this treatment where it seems so controversial at the moment. Best wishes!
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- Nice
- - January 18th, 2010 at 11:47:38
Amazing story. Good luck to you all!!!
