This NJ boy is dying; mom wants help making his last wishes come true

If Denise Olenhaus of Keansburg could give her dying son, Lucas, one gift it would be the ability to see and experience all of the things that make him smile before he loses his eyesight completely.

Sixteen-year-old Lucas Olenhaus suffers from a multitude of serious health problems that have left him without the ability to walk, speak or hear. Denise Olenhaus said her son uses his eyes to convey how he's feeling, but due to his medical conditions his eyesight is rapidly deteriorating.

Still, his failing health hasn't taken away his ability to smile or get excited by things he likes.

“He’s such a happy little boy and he’s always smiling even with all the problems he has to deal with," Denise Olenhaus said.

In order to help her son see as much as possible, before his health robs him of the opportunity, Denise and her family have set up a GoFundMe page, hoping to raise enough money to fulfill the bucket list they've come up with for the teen. So far, they've raised just over $2,300.

"The only way he has to communicate is his eyes," Denise Olenhaus told New Jersey 101.5. “We want to try and get him to the places he hasn’t seen yet before he uses his eyesight.”

Lucas was born on March 23, 1999 at 6 pounds and 12 ounces. For just over a year, Denise Olenhaus said, he was a normal, healthy, happy baby. That changed when he turned 13 months old and had his first seizure.

"When he turned 15 months old, he had two grand mal seizures that lasted 45 minutes to an hour, which resulted in him losing his hearing. Within the next couple of months in a rapid fashion he lost the ability to do anything. He went from a healthy functioning baby to basically a rag doll," Denise wrote on the GoFundMe page for Lucas.

Eventually, Lucas was diagnosed with a neuro-progressive degenerative disorder. He also developed asthma when he turned 2 years old and over the years, has had pneumonia over 150 times.

In addition, the teen has a Chiari malformation of the brain, which causes brain tissue to extends into the spinal canal. He was diagnosed with having a mitral valve prolapse, which affects his heart. More recently, he developed benign tumors in his mouth.

He takes 53 different medications, is bound to a wheelchair and spends several weeks a years at Jersey Shore Medical center, Denise Olenhaus said. His lungs and kidneys are also in poor shape, making every day a bigger struggle.

Lucas is somewhat of a celebrity at the hospital. His mother said he loves being around people and if well-liked among the medical staff.

“If you meet my son for the first time, just looking at him, you fall in love with him," Denise Olenhaus said. "It’s the most incredible thing. He’s a big flirt. He loves the ladies.”

Thanks to the donations that have already been sent through GoFundMe, the family will spend this coming weekend crossing the first item off Lucas' bucket list when they drive to Pittsburgh to see a Steelers game. However, the cost of the trip is adding up. Due to back surgery in 2007, Lucas isn't able to sit in a car for too long. Also, since the family will have to rent a vehicle, pay for a hotel and deal with other related expenses, they're still hoping for additional donations.

Denise Olenhaus said there are several other places the family would like to take Lucas including Sesame Place, the Camden Aquarium and the zoo. She said her son is especially fascinated by bright colors, trees and car rides.

"Lucas loves to watch his sports, cartoons, trees, balloons and car rides," Denise Olenhaus said on the GoFundMe page. "What we are asking for his help to get him to the places he has not seen yet and before he loses his eye sight. Unfortunately I do not work because I take care of Lucas so I don’t have the money to do all the things I would like to with him."

Denise Olenhaus said Lucas' eyes "are his world" and she said the family's goal is to give the teen as much happiness as they can while he's still able to appreciate it.

"He’s been through so much," she said. "If I could give him the world I would so do it.”

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.