Luke Gane is a right tackle, a defensive end and an older brother.
He’s also a survivor.
When the Edison High football team takes the field against Artesia on Friday night at Huntington Beach High, look for No. 55. In the jersey, pads, helmet and cleats, the senior looks similar to the other Chargers.
But none of them are more excited for the start of the season than Gane. It’s the light at the end of the long tunnel, one caused by aplastic anemia. A year ago at this time, Gane was nowhere near the football field, instead confined to a hospital bed at Children’s Hospital of Orange County. His body couldn’t produce enough new blood cells, leaving him feeling weak and at higher risk of infection.
The Ganes knew something was up when Luke Gane had a bloody nose that wouldn’t stop. Days later, after blood work, he was rushed back to the emergency room. “They transported us in an ambulance to CHOC, and still we didn’t know what was going on,” said Tomoko Gane, Luke Gane’s mother. “We went to the third floor and we saw signs that said ‘hematology and oncology.’ At first, my reaction was, ‘Hmm. They must have ran out of beds and they’re just putting him on this floor.’ But then, reality hit that this was more serious then we thought. Then we started thinking cancer.”
The diagnosis wasn’t leukemia but aplastic anemia, which left the Ganes rushing to try to find out information about the condition. Soon, the community would also rush into action.
Meals were brought by the house daily. Fundraisers were organized, like a luau late last summer just before the Edison High football team went to Hawaii, and a haircutting fundraiser — “Locks for Luke” — that was also attended by the Servite and Costa Mesa High football teams. Rival Servite would play a big role throughout the process, also dedicating the Fryers’ game against Edison to Luke Gane and donating money from programs sold.
“It was almost like they were treating him as their own, which was so impressive,” Tomoko Gane said.
“Pray for 55” stickers were common sights. Olivia Zumwalt, the younger sister of Luke Gane’s good friend Jordan Zumwalt, went door-to-door to raise money. She collected more than $300, said Jim Gane, Luke Gane’s dad and a pastor at local CrossPoint Baptist Church.
