Skipton family's aim to give son who lost limbs 'best chance at life'
Luke was an avid rugby player before he contracted meningitis in 2019
Last updated 11th Jun 2021
A family from Skipton have vowed to do everything they can to give their eight-year-old-son every opportunity in life after developing a life-threatening condition.
Luke Mortimer was seven when he was diagnoses with Meningococcal Meningitis - a bacterial disease which can become fatal if not treated early.
In December 2019, Luke was saved by the doctors and nurses at Sheffield Children's Hospital but in the months afterwards he had to have both hands and both legs amputated.
His left arm was removed at the mid forearm and right just below the elbow and both legs were amputated below the knee.
Since this, the family have been told the Luke would need at least two sets of prosthetic arms and legs per year up to being 21, costing them thousands of pounds.
Luke's mum, Christine Mortimer, said: "We would do everything in our power just to enable him to be the same as he was before without him really having to think about it.
"Now he's just busy being an eight year old boy and cracking on with life."
Dad, Adam Mortimer, said: "I'll never forget just before we left him in surgery he looked at his hands and said 'Goodbye my beautiful hands you've served me well'. It's not something that you want to hear your kid say.
"However, it kind of gave me a little bit of hope because he'd accepted that.
"He takes most things in his very slightly smaller stride and you sort of feed of that and thing he's happy and mentally the same kid he was before so we're so lucky.
"I don't want to get down a route where we go to him 'Here is a really super duper arm and it does all these things, but you can only have it this year because next year we won't be able to afford it.'"
Friends and family regularly participated in fundraisers to cover the costs of the prosthetics, but everything was put on hold when the covid-19 pandemic hit.
Before the outbreak, around £200,000 had been raised so the family could move into a specially adapted home.
The first fundraiser to take place now restrictions have eased starts tomorrow (Saturday 12 June) with a team of cyclists doing a 127 mile ride along the Leeds and Liverpool canal.
It's hoped Luke will join them on the last leg of the ride - being towed along in a bike trailer.
You can donate to the fundraiser here.