Our Story & Mission : About Us : Team Luke

Why We Are Here

Our mission is to enrich the lives of children with a brain injury and give hope to their families through support and education.

According to The Center for Head Injury Services, approximately 1 in 500 school-age children each year receive a head injury severe enough to be hospitalized. Although families are eligible for state and federal financial support, funding is limited, and families are forced to pay for medical care on their own. The emotional, physical and financial strain of caring for a disabled child takes an enormous toll on families.

The Unseen Hardships: The True Cost of Pediatric Brain Injury

A brain injury isn’t just a medical event; it’s a life-altering crisis that affects every corner of a family’s life. And while the emotional and physical toll is immediately visible, the financial impact often remains hidden, growing quietly.

At Team Luke Hope for Minds, we’ve walked alongside families across the country as they’ve faced the unimaginable. No family should have to choose between groceries and therapy, or delay critical care because they can’t afford the equipment their child needs to heal.

It’s time to shine a light on the true cost of pediatric brain injury and why your support is so critical.

The Hidden Costs That Families Shoulder Alone

These are the everyday expenses that quickly add up and are often not covered by insurance:

Therapies: Physical, occupational, speech, stem cell, hyperbaric oxygen, MNRI, functional, and behavioral therapies, often multiple times a week, for years.
Medications: Ongoing prescriptions to manage seizures, pain, and neurological symptoms.
Adaptive Equipment: Wheelchairs, walkers, communication devices, home renovations, and specialized transportation.
In-Home Care: Personal care aides, respite services, and nursing support for children who require 24/7 supervision.
Travel Expenses: Many families must travel long distances to access pediatric specialists, incurring gas, hotel, and food costs along the way.
Lost Wages: Parents often reduce hours or leave their jobs entirely to care for their child. Many lose their income permanently.
Emotional Support: Therapy for parents, siblings, and the child is an essential but often unaffordable need.

The Ripple Effect: When Financial Strain Turns into Crisis

The financial burden of a brain injury doesn’t just affect the wallet; it threatens a family’s future.

Mounting Debt: Families often drain savings, go into credit card debt, or take out second mortgages to stay afloat.
Delayed Care: Essential therapies are postponed or skipped altogether because they simply can’t afford them.
Family Stress: The emotional toll, compounded by financial pressure, leads to caregiver burnout, fractured relationships, and mental health struggles.

We Can’t Let Families Face This Alone

That’s where you come in.

Your support gives families more than just financial relief. It gives them hope and a better chance at recovery for their child.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Imagine the relief your gift brings:
• A child getting the therapy that helps them walk again
• A parent sleeping soundly knowing their child has the care they need
• A family not having to choose between survival and healing

Your compassion can turn despair into hope.

Support Team Luke Hope For Minds

Our Story

In 2015, a 9-year-old boy named Luke and a friend were left unsupervised in a golf cart while playing at a friend’s house. The golf cart tipped over and landed on Luke. When his dad arrived at the hospital he was told, “Luke has been in cardiac arrest for 7 minutes. He has suffered head and chest trauma.” Life changed that afternoon in July for the Siegel family. Just twenty days before the accident Tim Siegel, Luke’s dad, resigned as the tennis coach at Texas Tech (where he had been the past 23 years) to spend more time with his wife Jenny and their four beautiful children. Luke spent the next six months in extensive treatment, brain surgeries, and therapy. Luke’s MRI was so bad the neurologist told the Siegel family that Luke would never use his voice or his limbs. “My little Luke was the greatest fighter I’ve ever seen,” says Tim Siegel. The Lubbock community stepped up and supported the Siegel family after the accident. “Fight Like Luke” and “Pray for Luke” became regular phrases in the town’s vocabulary.

In 2008, an 11-year-old boy named JD suffered an anoxic brain injury from a non-fatal drowning incident in a hot tub. The family saw “life as normal” change that Saturday afternoon as they and their four children faced the uncertainty of life ahead. As JD underwent extensive treatment for his injuries over a 6-month hospital stay, the community stepped up and supported the family both financially and emotionally through financial support and prayer. “Pray, Pray, Pray for JD” and “Hope4JD” became the slogans of these support efforts.

As JD began treatment, his family struggled with the lack of information and guidance, as well as the mounting expenses for items such as house renovations, transportation, medical equipment for their home, and recovery-based therapies not covered by insurance. They received significant financial support from their community and a decision was made to form Hope4JD (later to become Hope4Minds) to help families experiencing the same struggles. Approved in December 2011, HOPE4JD (dba HOPE4MINDS(2015), later to become Team Luke Hope For Minds(2018), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID #32-0351208) that supports families with children who have suffered an acquired brain injury.

In 2017, Tim Siegel met with Ronda Johnson in Austin to learn more about Hope4Minds. Immediately after that meeting, Tim knew the impact they could make together to support other children like Luke and JD. In 2018, the two organizations merged to create Team Luke Hope For Minds. To learn more about our impact, click here.

In August 2021, our beloved friend and hero, Luke Siegel, gained his wings after complications related to COVID-19. The outpouring of love, prayer, and support across the nation has been overwhelming and a testament to the incredible impact Luke made on the world. Luke was able to inspire thousands without ever saying a word. His legacy lives on each and every day as Team Luke Hope For Minds continues to enrich the lives of children with brain injuries by giving hope to their families through support and education.

“JD is doing really good,” said John Hartman, JD’s father. “He has recently started putting words in context when a person can’t understand him. It is amazing that he is still making progress in his recovery after 14 years,” said John