Plea to find lost necklace that has been like a ‘talisman’ for northern beaches family

AN   ELANORA Heights mum is appealing for help to find a necklace she says has been like a talisman through her son’s illness.

AN   ELANORA Heights mum is appealing for helpto find a necklace she says has been like a talisman through her son’s illness.

Elizabeth Lukas said her son James, 24, was wearing the necklace at Whale Beach on Sunday afternoon and lost it while swimming.

He inherited it after his grandfather Leslie Laszlo Lukas died in 2005.

Ms Lukas said the gold necklace, which has a dice charm, was treasured by the family.

“Dad died on his birthday, in Hungary (where he was born),” Ms Lukas said.

“It was an unexpected death,” she said.

She said when James realised the chain was missing from his neck, he was “devastated”.

“He was particularly close to my father.”

Whale Beach

And she said the chain holds “more than just sentimental value” to the family.

They also believe it has helped safeguard James through a serious medical condition.

“Six months after my father’s death when my son was 15, he became really unwell,” she said.

“He spent weeks in Mona Vale and Westmead hospitals ... he has this auto-immune disease of the liver, schlerosing cholangitis, which there’s no cure for.”

She said the family spent three years going to hospital every week and “there wasn’t much quality of life” for James.

When he was 18 James started wearing his grandfather’s necklace and, over time, the family noticed his symptoms had lessened, Ms Lukas said.

“I know it sounds way out ... but I think it was Dad protecting him.”

The family were also hoping it might be found with an underwater metal detector.

Anyone who has any information about the necklace can call Ms Lukas on 0428 488 539.