‘Some people only dream of angels, we held one in our arms’: Maria and Vic Bentvelzen farewell baby Luca

After tragically losing their eight-month-old baby in heartbreaking circumstances, an SA couple has paid a touching tribute to their beautiful boy Luca.

Vic and Maria's Bentvelzen baby boy Luca tragically passed away after just 8 months. Picture: Supplied by family

After enduring a tragedy no parent should, an Adelaide couple have paid a touching tribute to their baby boy who passed away at just eight months old.

Maria and Vic Bentvelzen, high school sweethearts originally from Mount Gambier, were over the moon when they found out they were pregnant with their first child.

Vic’s sister Mel said she burst into “happy, excited tears” after hearing the news.

“I knew how long they had waited, I knew how much this meant to them and the sacrifices they had both made,” Mel said.

“I remember spending the day with Vic after he shared the news, we laughed and talked all day about him becoming a dad and what the future had in store for us all.

“Maria had waited her whole life to become a mother.”

At 14 weeks in the pregnancy, Maria and Vic received some concerning news from their doctors, but were confident Luca would be fine.

Scans revealed Luca’s heart had not formed properly and a hole would need to be surgically corrected.

At 35 weeks, on February 18, 2022, Maria and Vic welcomed their “little chonky bubba of 3.91kg” Luca into the world.

Vic and Maria's Bentvelzen were overjoyed at the prospect of becoming parents from the moment they found out they were pregnant. Picture: Supplied by family

Luca underwent several surgeries to combat his complicated cardiac and respiratory issues. Picture: Supplied by family

Luca needed to be placed on breathing assistance immediately, going into surgery four days later, and the pair were unable to hold their newborn until 19 days after his birth.

Despite the surgeries, complications and hurdles Maria and Vic said Luca was a strong fighter who was “always smiling, regardless of how he was struggling”.

“We will forever remember his cheeky smile and gorgeous eyes — his sweet giggle and soothing cuddles,” they said.

“Day by day just remembering his cheekiness and how happy he always was and how much his face would light up when we entered his hospital room each day.”

Vic and Maria's Bentvelzen baby boy Luca tragically passed away after just 8 months. Picture: Supplied by family

In early October after months of battles and complications, things were starting to look positive with Luca “happy, smiling, babbling away loving the raspberries from his dad” and cuddles from mum.

Due to Covid, Luca’s aunty Mel and the family had to keep their distance and send love from afar.

“We waited for the day we could all meet this beautiful new family member of ours,” Mel said.

“As a sister it was excruciating to watch them go home every night without their boy, sit by his side day after day and then not to be able to hold him as his health declined.”

However, after taking a turn for the worst on Sunday October 16, 2022 Luca Charlie Bentvelzen passed away peacefully in his parents arms — with the couple laying their child to rest in early November.

“Some people only dream of angels, we held one in our arms, forever in our hearts baby boy, mummy and daddy love you endlessly,” Vic and Maria said.

A GoFundMe page created to cover funeral and provide ongoing support has raised nearly $15,000.