It’s been a whole week, feels like a year to some and just yesterday to others, since 4-year old Luke Holko was hit in the head with a line-drive foul ball at a Mahoning Valley Scrappers game.  Luke is currently at Akron Children’s Hospital in a comatose state.  Every reaction he has, every movement he makes and all he can do without the help of machines is being very closely monitored by the specialists caring for him.

I got a chance to talk with Chad Holko, Luke’s father.  Chad shared some heartfelt thoughts about the overwhelming amount of support, the unselfish volunteer work and fundraising taking place, and also how hard it is to always think the best.

Chad first told me how thankful he is from the public support.  “It’s been amazing.  People we don’t know have shown support and we are thankful.  When I start donating to charities after this is over, this place [Akron Children’s Hospital] is going to be first on the list.  The Ronald McDonald House has also been very helpful.  The Mahoning Valley Scrappers people have also been very supportive and we thank them as well.”

Chad is a Greene Fireman and said he has trained for CPR and standard First Aid but has never encountered a situation like this in his line of work yet.  He also commented on how religion and prayer have been powerful aides to his entire family during the past week.

At all NYPL Playoff games in Niles, Lowell, Staten Island, and Brooklyn, collections are being taken up to help the Holko family offset the medical costs.  There will also be firemen from the area, as well as New York,  at the Scrappers game against Brooklyn who will assist in gathering donations.  A playoff game is important, but I think if you have not gotten goosebumps on your arms yet, then you just don’t get it.

A cookout at Sam’s Club on Labor Day to benefit Luke raised over $3,000.  There are other ways to donate if you cannot make it to an event or fundraiser.  All local Cortland Banks are donation points for a fund established by the family. 

Luke’s mother was happy to reveal a sign of positive progress.  “He squeezed my hand twice this morning.”  The hospital room is filled with letters from everywhere from all sorts of people.  There are balloons and stuffed animals, colored pictures, posters, and right in the middle of it all is Luke. 

Status updates can be gotten at the following site: helpluke.com.  There are also pictures, and links to other places here.

My trip today was rough.  The family thanked me for not hastily printing information or pursuing the story.  I will continue to update local happenings and fundraisers as we all pray and wait.  The family said it best when they said it is in God’s and Luke’s hands now.

Please leave a comment on this story by clicking comments at the bottom of the article.  It is my request that this article be used as a get-well card, all comments will be printed, unlike the original story, where I have received over 180 comments but only printed 20.

Chad and Nicole, as well as extended family and friends: Please stay strong, everyone is rooting for Luke to pull through this.  Prayer will get you through it.

To read the original Paneech.com posting, The Saddest Thing I Have Ever Seen, click here.

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