Luke McAuliffe: Healthworker’s fight for life as wife, kids isolate

A hospital worker’s wife and two kids are stuck isolating in Shepparton as their husband and father fights for his life in Melbourne.

Luke McAuliffe and his family.

A Goulburn Valley Health worker’s wife and two sons are stuck isolating in Shepparton, 200km from their husband and father as he fights for his life.

Luke McAuliffe suffered a bleed to the brain on September 24 when he was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital.

The 31-year-old complained of a headache and is now in an induced coma — not likely to make it home in time for Christmas.

With the Victorian Government lockdown restrictions in Melbourne and Shepparton, his wife, Danielle, and the couple’s two sons, Flynn, 6, and Oliver, 4, cannot visit.

Ms McAuliffe is also a close contact to a tier one exposure site so her family cannot leave their house where she is juggling working from home, home schooling and daily phone calls with the hospital.

Rachael Newman, Ms Britton’s cousin, said it was devastating for her family.

Mr McAuliffe, who works in the IT department at GV Health, had emergency surgery and could need another procedure as doctors wait for the swelling on his brain to reduce.

“The doctors have told us it is a very tricky situation at the moment,” Ms Newman said.

“They want him to come off the ventilator but at the moment they are unable to do that.

“Luke becomes very agitated and stressed when this happens and it could start another bleed if his blood pressure becomes too high.

“There are plans to complete another surgery but we’re not sure when that will be because it’s a day-by-day situation at the moment.”

Luke McAuliffe, his wife Danielle and their two sons Flynn and Oliver.

Ms Newman said her cousin was looking after her two children at home, balancing her own work and homeschooling.

“The boys know their dad is in hospital but they keep asking when is he coming home? — it’s heartbreaking,” she said.

“They’re completely locked down as well because Danielle is a contact of a tier one exposure site which makes their situation much tougher.

“Luke’s mum is in Adelaide and she can’t even get over to see him.”

Ms Newman said Mr McAuliffe was the life of the party, and has become known as a ‘cocktail king’ by those close to him with pina coladas his speciality.

“You’re in for a good night when he is around,” she said.

Ms Newman said staff at St Vincent’s have been in constant contact with Ms Britton, regularly updating her on her husband’s condition.

“There have been daily phone calls and we couldn’t appreciate that anymore,” Ms Newman said.

Ms Newman has started a GoFundMe to help the McAuliffe family.

It has already raised more than $26,000 with Ms Britton’s employer, Plus 1 Group, raising more than $9000 on their own.

“We’ve been blown away by the support and we couldn’t thank people enough,” Ms Newman said.

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