Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and her husband, Wayne, discovered a kitten with spina bifida who needed a loving family around a month after their firstborn son, Wyatt, passed away due to complications linked to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Stephanie shared that the person had been adopted alongside his biological sibling who was considered to be “normal”. However, their adoptive parent was unable to provide adequate care for the individual and they were both returned shortly after.

Spina bifida is a spinal abnormality that can cause cats to experience a range of symptoms such as unsteady gait, hind leg weakness, and urinary incontinence. These symptoms can prevent cats from performing activities like climbing stairs or jumping onto high surfaces, and they often have to use diapers which can make it difficult for them to get adopted. Stephanie, who had lost her son to a terminal disability and has a visually impaired son, decided to adopt a kitten with spina bifida to provide love, compassion, and care to the little one.

Stephanie and her spouse took a road trip from their residence in Danbury, Connecticut, to Maryland on January 30, 2021. Their purpose was to see the three-month-old cat in real life for the first time. Stephanie still remembers how they fell in love with the tiny feline who weighed around 1.5 pounds.

@luke_able_minskin shared a heartwarming image on Instagram featuring a family that decided to name their new member Luke, in honor of their love for Star Wars. The family including Stephanie, Wayne, and their children chose the name to pay tribute to the iconic character Luke Skywalker. However, the name also holds a special meaning as it signifies “bright, white, bringer of light”, which is exactly what the newest family member has brought to them, especially after a difficult time. It was the perfect choice for them!

Luke quickly adapted to his new home and Stephanie, who had no prior experience caring for an incontinent cat, learned how to diaper him. She also discovered that Luke needed to be bathed frequently to maintain cleanliness. Despite this additional care, Stephanie shares that Luke is thriving a year later. She has even found that changing his diapers and bathing him have become routine tasks that she doesn’t mind doing.