Luke is a twin born 12 weeks prem on 25/10/06 weighing 1.22kg = 2.69 lbs. Luke suffered a bleed on brain which lead to hydrocephalus. In NICU we were introduced to Simon Stapleton St Georges not knowing then how instrumental Simon & his team would become for Lukes survival in life.

Simon kept a close eye on Lukes intensive care journey as a prem and the decision was made for Lukes first shunt to be fitted on 14/02/2007.

Up until age 13 Luke needed 7 emergency shunt brain surgeries. Fast forward to 2020 covid hit UK Luke needed 3 shunt surgeries April + July + Aug it was a strained difficult unsettling time but Neuro at Georges were beyond amazing and professional and reassured and guided us through standard.

As Luke was beginning his final GCSE year in high school he had unexpected news at routine eye exam on 1/9/22 looking at optical nerve (he has been asymtomatic since age 8) pressure was high in brain which then would unravel to needing 8 emergency brain surgeries over 10 weeks.

All surgeries from birth to age 15 were on right side of brain - one week short of his 16th birthday 18/10/22 a decision was made to put a new ventriculo-peritoneal shunt on left side of his brain for those who are aware of ICP monitoring he was reading ICP 73.1 + ICPA 77.9 before left side shunt was inserted.

On the final week of his harrowing journey in mid Nov 2022 Luke went through 3 emergency surgeries in four days he now has 2 working shunts on his left + right side of his brain.

Luke missed GCSE mocks Dec 2022 but went on to sit the second round in 2023 and sat his GCSES and has an apprenticeship + college in place for September 2023 and is doing amazing and is in the prime of his life he is achieving like all his peers.

Luke will continue needing frequent monitoring and follow-ups, shunts may need to be replaced because of an infection or blockage or because the shunt valve stops working.

Without the unlimited support, care, guidance and surgeries Luke has received from Mr Simon Stapleton Consultant Neurosurgeon and the NHS neuro team including Miss Samantha Hettige Consultant Neurosurgeon and Ms Meriem Amarouche Consultant Neurosurgeon at St Georges Luke would have never survived we are forever in their debt.

Also Mr Lloyd Bender Consultant Opthalmologist at Moorfields and his team have been instrumental in liasing with the Neuro team we are also forever in their debt.

Our thanks includes too many NHS staff to mention who have given time to Luke they work 24 hours around the clock - A + E Doctors + Nurses + MRI/CT radiology staff + Anesthetists + all the ward Neuro Nurses on Nicholls (including our 1st point of call - Emily + Jess) + Theatre recovery team + porters the list goes on.

Our Cause

St Georges Neurosurgery Paediatric Department

St Georges are the regional tertiary centre for specialist inpatient and outpatient neurosciences servicing a population of 3 million people across South-West London, Surrey and Sussex. The team provide high quality and extremely specialist care for seriously ill patients. The department works closely with St George’s University of London in the delivery of specialist teaching, education and research.The department works closely with the other service within Neurosciences (Neurophysiology, Neuroradiology, Neuropsychology, Neuropsychiatry, Neurosurgery, Neuropathology, Neurorehabilitation and Chronic Pain) todeliver high quality, seamless care to all patients.

We aim to help provide  important equipment and facilities for medical staff and patients. It’s complex stuff, but your donation will – together with the help of others – achieve remarkable things.