Giving Back

Growing up just outside Chicago, Luke van Heukelum began kicking around a soccer ball as soon as he learned to walk. 

But by the time he was an early teen, he began experiencing a minor setback. He started having stomach pains while playing the sport he loved. According to his parents, they observed their son hunching over in the middle of games as if he was out of breath. At first, it didn’t seem like a pressing issue. However, van Heukelum’s stomach pains never went away. 

Instead, they became constant and progressively worsened. His parents eventually took him to get an ultrasound for further examination. He was still in his soccer gear at the time of the visit. 

Initial tests netted concerning results. Doctors identified numerous masses on his liver, lungs and spine. 

“That's where it got a little scary,” van Heukelum said. “You could see the doctor's face who did the ultrasound, and they looked a little concerned. They said we had to go to the bigger hospital in Chicago. At that point, my parents seemed pretty nervous.”

Accompanied by his family, van Heukelum checked into Lurie Children's Hospital and was quickly moved to a floor where cancer patients stayed. He went through every test imaginable on the first day, where he and his family learned there was almost a sure chance he had cancer. It was September 2018, and van Heukelum was just 13 years old.  

It was thought van Heukelum had a form of lymphoma. Upon hearing the news, his father — Hans — was distraught. 

“It’s like your world kind of disappears for a minute,” his father said. “You're like, he just played soccer this weekend. This can be true.” 

His hospital stay lasted a total of 81 hours and was filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Thankfully, a biopsy found that he was cancer-free and instead had a treatable stomach infection. 

However, to distract van Heukelum from everything happening while in the hospital, he played video games with friends on a portable Xbox and TV set, which he frequently took on road trips. He even brought a headset outfitted with a microphone, allowing him to stay connected and communicate with those friends. He played video games such as ARK, Far Cry and Fortnite and forgot he was hospitalized because of how immersed he was. 

“One thing that was really important to me was that whole aspect of talking to my friends and being able to feel connected to the outside world,” he said. “I think that's what kept morale high during that tough time.”

As the van Heukelums left the hospital with the news Luke was cancer-free, they passed by rooms of less fortunate children — some of which had days to live. It was heartbreaking for them to see.  

“You walk down the floor, look in, and see kids there by themselves, and this was mostly teenagers where he was,” Hans said. “You have almost like guilt or sadness that other parents and patients didn't get the news we got.” 

A few days later, while sitting together for breakfast, the van Heukelums discussed ways to do something positive for the other patients at the hospital. Luke suggested giving away his Xbox. They later agreed to donate several consoles to the hospital. 

What started as a small, kind gesture of donating several Xboxes to the Oncology Department of Lurie Children's Hospital later developed into creating Team44 Pediatric Cancer Foundation. With the help of others, van Heukelum’s non-profit organization now provides an escape for pediatric cancer patients through connectivity. 

According to van Heukelum, Team44 started by instituting a board consisting of a majority of people his age. They would meet once or twice weekly to gather information and bounce ideas off each other. The group came up with ways to host events and raise money. 

“I just had a lot of people and a great community around me, which really helped me spread the word quickly,” he said. “I think once we set up those events, we were able to raise a lot of money through that.”

The non-profit’s concept directly correlates with van Heukelum’s positive experience of having his gaming system with him in the hospital. Utilizing money from fundraisers, often alongside soccer tournaments, Team 44 outfitted patient rooms at two Chicago hospitals with gaming setups similar to van Heukelum. The hospitals include Lurie Children's Hospital, which van Heukelum stayed at, and Rush Hospital.  

Through gaming, watching one’s favorite shows on Netflix or YouTube or FaceTiming with friends, patients can feel connected to the outside world while they battle life-threatening implications. 

The non-profit’s name is based on the concept of connectivity and the power of a team. The number 44 represents the digits van Heukelum first wore on the soccer field when he was 10. As a Maryland men’s soccer sophomore, he still sports the number. 

“As a parent, you're obviously very proud of your children,” his father said. “This was one of those things that you see your kids go through, and Cathy and I feel the same way about this. He has a very strong and determined personality. … I think it certainly accelerated his maturity level. The notion to give back and roll up your sleeves certainly was the next step of that.”

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound forward studying kinesiology is a National Honor Society member. As a freshman a season ago, he netted four goals and dished out five assists. He began his 2024 campaign with a pair of goals in his first three games before suffering an injury that forced him to miss a large portion of the season. 

Van Heukelum has since returned to Maryland’s lineup to help his team make a run in the Big Ten Tournament. The tournament is in Bridgeview, Illinois — a modest 30-minute drive from his hometown of Elmhurst. 

The soccer player has developed into a star student-athlete in College Park, and his non-profit has grown far beyond his imagination. He says he and Team 44 are eyeing the beginning of 2025 to kick start fundraising efforts again to continue giving back to hospitals and their patients.

“I always want to do everything I can to help as many people as possible,” van Heukelum said. “We've come a long way. I didn't think we would be able to do this much already, but I have a great community around me who's helped me so much with all the fundraising and just helping out, doing everything they can.”