In the fall of 2023, Luca was a busy sophomore in high school when he began experiencing pain in his jaw. Luca’s parents, Kara and Dominic, took him to a dentist and oral surgeon, but the specialists were unable to determine the cause of Luca’s pain.
Shortly thereafter, Luca noticed strange bruising on his arm. When he showed Kara, a registered nurse, she immediately brought him to the Emergency Department (ED) at UPMC Children’s.
During the exam, a physician in the ED asked Luca to remove his shirt and sit up straight. When Luca rolled his shoulders back, Kara was shocked to see a large lymph node protruding from her son’s neck.
A Difficult Diagnosis
Following a whirlwind of tests, Luca was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing cancer.
Within two days, he was admitted to the hospital’s hematology/oncology unit, had a port placed in his chest, and was started on chemotherapy.
Complications and Critical Care
Over the next several months, Luca underwent seven rounds of chemotherapy, multiple spinal taps, and faced serious complications, including sepsis and double pneumonia. While he was only supposed to be inpatient for a portion of his treatment, he ended up being admitted to UPMC Children’s for eight months out of the next year.
That winter, Luca developed a life-threatening neutropenic fever, which occurs when white blood cell counts are dangerously low. He was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and remained in and out of consciousness for two weeks. It was one of the scariest parts of treatment for Luca’s worried family. “The PICU is a blur,” he says. “I can remember the pressure in my chest, but the memories mostly come to me in flashbacks.”
Thankfully, Luca recovered, and his treatment continued.
Silver Linings
Kara shares that when Luca was first diagnosed, she felt shattered. “I kept wondering why something so awful would happen to such a great kid,” she says. “But there have been many silver linings throughout all of this.”
Luca’s primary physician, Louis Rapkin, MD, director of Clinical Oncology, was a consistent source of reassurance and expertise. “I had a difficult case,” Luca shares. “It was a rollercoaster, and Dr. Rapkin was there with me every step of the way. I was lucky to have him.”
Luca and his family found comfort in the many hospital services funded by philanthropy. Kara says, “I cannot say enough about Children’s. The staff would come into Luca’s room with Squishmallows and gift cards. Every day was like Christmas at the hospital!”
The Pastoral Care Department also played a meaningful role in the family’s healing. “Father Nick from Pastoral Care would come to Luca’s room weekly to offer communion,” Kara recalls. “This was all so stressful. I sometimes went to The Catharine and John Ryan Chapel just to find a little solace.”
Ringing the Bell
In April 2024, Luca had his last chemotherapy treatment. He faced two additional hospitalizations in the months thereafter as his body worked toward recovery.
Finally, in July, ten months after his initial diagnosis, Luca rang the bell, marking the end of cancer treatment.
Returning to Normal and Giving Back
Luca shares that life post-treatment has not been without its challenges. “I used to be a social butterfly,” he explains. “When I got cancer, that all changed. I was anxious, and it was hard to get used to crowds again.”
Luca found that turning his experience into an opportunity to help others provided him with greater confidence. Since ringing the bell last year, Luca has gone above and beyond to give back. He raised more than $40,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and advocates for UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation, sharing his story at events like the Foundation’s annual golf outing to inspire others.
Today, Luca is a freshman at Carlow University. He plays on the school’s golf team and is pursuing a degree in nursing.
The Impact of Every Gift
Looking back on their experience, Luca and his family remain grateful for the donor-funded treatment and research that contributed to his care. He says, “I wouldn’t be here today without the research that came before me. Five dollars can save someone’s life.” Kara adds, “If everyone donated a little bit, what a compound effect it would have!”
Luca’s story is a reminder that every gift to UPMC Children’s can help a kid find their way back to health and confidence.