Luke Jethro Heydlauff, age 2, passed away peacefully at home on July 16, 2018, with his parents, Jeff and Kate Heydlauff at his side.
Luke’s all too brief time on earth was surrounded by and epitomized by love. Luke was born in Kampala, Uganda, on October 16, 2015. His birth mother, Winnie, not only brought him into this world but loved him enough to place him under the care of the Nafasi Orphanage. It was there that he received wonderful care from people who truly were the hands and feet of God.
At their church on Adoption Sunday in November 2015, Jeff and Kate began the roller coaster experience associated with many international adoptions. Even in these initial months, the Heydlauffs experienced the love of both countless friends and strangers. In June of 2016, Jeff and Kate traveled one more time to Uganda to bring Luke home to his forever family.
Luke was a happy, smiling child from the beginning. In fact, his smile was described as “contagious,” “one that lights up the world” and “big enough to fill any room.” Luke’s big, brown eyes didn’t miss a trick. He learned to trust, with an understandable amount of trepidation, the many people who cared for and loved him unconditionally. Not only was he discerning, but Luke was a smart, gentle, kind, and most of all an extremely polite soul.
Luke was diagnosed with Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis, which led to many visits to Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was the bravest hero through countless hospital appointments, procedures, tests, and admissions.
In June 2017, the Heydlauff family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for Luke to be listed for a lung transplant. In October 2017 at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Luke received a double lung transplant. The family was able to return to Traverse City this past June. Luke maneuvered this journey with grace. He loved his parents, played with his siblings, listened to music and savored his Goldfish crackers and potato chips.
A visitation for friends to share in the Heydlauffs’ grief will be held at Sojourn Church, 1027 McRae Hill Road, Traverse City, Michigan 49685, on Friday, July 20, from 5:00 to 7:00.
A kid-focused celebration of Luke’s life, designed to be kid-centric will be held at Sojourn at 10:00 on Saturday, July 21.
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