04 September 2023 , 15:16
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A ten-year-old boy who lost his hands and feet to meningitis has thanked volunteers who turned his bungalow into a dream home.
Luke Mortimer was just seven when he became ill with meningococcal meningitis, on December 3, 2019. In hospital, doctors discovered septicaemia – a life-threatening blood poisoning condition. The ends of all his limbs had to be amputated, and Luke had 23 operations over ten weeks to replace missing skin.
The family later moved to a ground-floor home and Luke’s dad Adam, a builder, began adapting it to Luke’s needs. But he soon became overwhelmed and turned to the charity Band of Builders, a 12-strong team of volunteers who joined forces in 2016 after hearing about a terminal cancer sufferer.
Working for free, they installed a new kitchen, heating system, shower room and wooden flooring for Luke’s family. Luke got the first tour of his refurbished home in Embsay, North Yorkshire, on Sunday. He said: “I can remember that when they first came the house looked like a wreck, but then within a few weeks, it looked like a dream home that you only see on TV and I still can’t thank them enough.”
Luke with the Band of Builders team who converted his home (BandofBuilders/AdamMortimer/SWNS)The refurbished house now has easy-to-use fittings in the shower room and a smooth floor in the kitchen, where Luke spends a lot of time with big brother Harry. Luke’s grateful father Adam, 49, said: “The work would have taken me years to complete but the Band Of Builders got us to a decorated finish in eight weeks. What an amazing charity and bunch of people.”
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Before his illness, for which he had treatment at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Luke was a keen rugby player for Skipton RFC. His new room has places on the wall for his framed rugby shirts, signed by his favourite players. The family’s bungalow was previously adapted for a man paralysed from the waist down.
Tony Steel, Operations Director of Band of Builders, thanked the tradesmen who transformed the house, and the locals who supplied their food and drinks. He added: “The look on Luke’s face made it all worthwhile. Luke is an inspiration to us all, and it has been our pleasure to help his dad complete the renovations to the home – and therefore make the quality of Luke’s home life just that bit better.”