Lucas Bradshaw's Home Run for Life
Lucas is a determined, caring, and dependable young man who brings heart and grit to everything he does. He loves agriculture, animals, and baseball, and is the kind of person others can always count on. On May 8, 2025, Lucas’s life changed in an instant. He was riding a mini
Lucas is a determined, caring, and dependable young man who brings heart and grit to everything he does. He loves agriculture, animals, and baseball, and is the kind of person others can always count on.
On May 8, 2025, Lucas’s life changed in an instant. He was riding a mini school bus to a high school baseball game when the bus was struck from behind at high speed by a box truck. The impact ejected Lucas from the vehicle. His father, a volunteer coach, was driving the bus at the time.
Lucas’s mom learned about the accident from a motorist who had stopped to help and stayed with her husband until she arrived. When she reached the scene, the devastation was overwhelming. The emergency room felt like organized chaos as medical teams worked urgently to save her son’s life. A neurosurgeon quickly stepped in, focused entirely on Lucas.
Two days later, Lucas underwent a craniotomy. He spent 11 days in the ICU before transferring to the Pediatric ICU, where his family began to see small signs of hope. On day 17, his bone flap was successfully reinstalled. In June, Lucas transferred to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he began intensive inpatient therapy that continued for three months.
Lucas’s family is grateful beyond words for the people who carried them through those darkest days. From the school resource officer who cleared Lucas’s airway at the crash scene and saved his life, to the neurosurgeons, nurses, specialists, and therapists who never gave up on him — each played a vital role in his recovery. The compassion and skill of his care team at Beacon Children’s Hospital left a lasting mark on their family.
Today, Lucas continues the long road to recovery. Mentally, he is functioning close to his old self. Physically, he is mobile but still rebuilding strength and endurance. His next major hurdle is vision recovery, and he meets it with the same determination that defines him.
His milestones are nothing short of remarkable. His first word came during occupational therapy — a raspy “yes” that brought tears to the room. One of his biggest goals was to walk out of rehabilitation on graduation day, and he did exactly that. Now, he’s working toward returning to the baseball field, stepping back into the 4-H show ring, and competing in FFA Small Engines.
In the coming weeks, Lucas will experience a moment his family is eagerly anticipating as he participates in Home Run for Life. For a young man who loves baseball, stepping onto the field and rounding the bases is more than symbolic — it’s a celebration of resilience, progress, and the strength it took to keep going.
Looking back, certain moments stand out: the shock of the accident scene, the intensity of the first days in the ICU, and the extraordinary compassion shown by the nurses who cared not only for Lucas, but for the entire family. When Lucas was moved into a hospital room named for longtime family friends, it felt like a sign that hope was carrying them forward.
Lucas’s family wants others to know that Beacon Children’s Hospital gave their son a new beginning. The staff believed Lucas was still fighting, still present, and they worked tirelessly to help him emerge from his coma. The expert care, comfort, and love shown to their family will never be forgotten.
Lucas’s story is one of perseverance, progress, and the power of people who refuse to give up.
Thank you to Patrick Industries for sponsoring this week's Home Run for Life game. Every dollar raised during the game will be matched by Patrick Industries and will benefit Beacon Children’s Hospital. To make a donation, please click here.
Beacon Children’s Hospital is Michiana’s only community-owned, not-for-profit hospital designed just for kids!
Home Run for Life 2026 Dates (click each date to purchase tickets).