The Lake Forest College men’s soccer team adopted seven-year-old, Highland Park native, Jonathan Lucas Barragan in June 2014. Jonathan goes by his middle name Lucas. Lucas was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome two weeks before his second birthday. He was in need of a life-saving kidney transplant with a type-O blood match.
“Coach Bergmann [past men’s soccer coach]wanted to give back to the community. Lucas was not able to go to school for a while, making it hard for him to make friends. We wanted to adopt him into our family,” said Will Braubach ’17.
In August 2010, Lucas discovered that he has Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). FSGS damages the kidney, which causes Nephrotic Syndrome. A precursor to kidney failure, this occurs when the body loses high amounts of protein into the urine, which leads to swelling and scarring of the body and kidneys.
The following year, he was constantly sick with the flu, pneumonia, and other viruses. His kidneys did not respond to the medications, leading to Lucas being put on dialysis, a treatment that keeps his body in balance when his kidneys are not functioning properly.
The day Lucas found out he was given a match for a transplant was the day that changed his and his family’s lives forever. The men’s soccer team adopted him shortly before his transplant in August 2014. Soon after, the men’s soccer team began to bond with him. The men’s soccer team helped Lucas and his family stay strong through tough times.
This past fall, Lucas was given great news: he is in remission. “Lucas was nervous at first, and did not want to talk to anyone except me, but now he is cool with everyone,” said Braubach‘17.Beingaroundthe soccer team has only made Lucas forget his struggles. Lucas has his own jersey and locker, so he feels like the 12th man every game.
The soccer team continues to support Lucas, even after their season. The team took him trick-or- treating, celebrated Christmas with him, and went to his birthday party. “You can tell he gets excited; sometimes being able to go all day. He tires us out,” said Braubach.
“For me personally, it has been amazing. We all struggle with problems. Lucas has been terminally ill his whole life. He is a lot stronger than most kids, and it encourages me,” said Braubach, who has spent more time than anyone on the team with Lucas at the hospital.
The team has not only learned more about Lucas through their support, but more about themselves. “We learned to be less selfish by helping Lucas. By thinking to ourselves ‘our life is not that bad,’ we are able to learn to help people,” said Themis Mourikes ’16.
The team has built a great relationship with Lucas. Lucas can go outside of his comfort zone knowing that he has a team that supports him. He does not have to be that shy boy he was at the beginning. “It feels pretty awesome. It is a good feeling to make an impact on someone’s life who is going through so much,” said Cesar Sandoval ’17.
Lucas will forever be a Forester on the men’s soccer team. He will continue to be supported by the team and will always be known as their 12th man.
