Newport Beach teen dies of cancer in Maui

Lucas Campanaro, left, opens a care package for his trip to Hawaii in 2006.

Brother describes him as having so much love to give and having a strong will to live in the time he was allotted.

By Joseph Serna
Updated: Monday, March 30, 2009

Lucas Campanaro, his loved ones say, lived by the credo, “When push comes to shove, One Love.”The motto alluded to Bob Marley’s song, which calls for strength and companionship in the face of adversity and despair.Reggae was a source of strength for Campanaro as he faced hard times, his brother JJ said, and, in turn, miraculously Luke was a pillar for his family to lean on before he died on his 18th birthday.“There was never, ‘I can’t.’ It was always ‘I can,’ with him,” JJ said of his brother. “He was radiating this type of casual ... it was so beautiful to watch him be so strong in the face of the heavy storm. He had so much love to give everyone and he gave it every day.”

On March 24, he succumbed to rhabdomyosarcoma, cancer of the connective tissues. Up until the end, JJ said, his younger brother had enough strength for everyone, and he died with his family by his side in Maui, as they held his hand and listened to his favorite music.“He had it all planned out. He died on his 18th birthday and there was no holding him back from anything,” JJ said.“He did it his way this time. He achieved it with flying colors ... he’s not restricted anymore because of this disease. Now he’s as mobile as he wants to be and we’re happy for that.”

Luke’s story first gained local attention a few years ago when the surf-loving Newport Harbor High School student was diagnosed with cancer. The school rallied around him, just a freshman at the time for a month on campus when his family got the prognosis. Relatives said his spirit was unyielding, and when it would be understandable for him to seek pity and feel sorry for himself, he didn’t.“He had such a strong will to live in just the time he was allotted,” JJ said. “We were able to say our goodbyes. He had strength all the way up until he took his last breath.”

Newport Harbor’s Make-a-Wish club was able to fund a trip for Luke and his family to Hawaii in 2006, a time when he was able to paddle out into the surf while the disease was in remission.The disease’s ebbs were only temporary, though, and after frequent chemotherapy and offers from hospitals across the nation to try various new, radical treatments on him, Luke decided he would take control of his life, his disease and enjoy as much time with his family in Maui as possible.

Luke’s family will honor him Sunday at A Street near the Balboa Pier beginning at 3:30 p.m.A paddle-out ceremony will begin at 4 p.m.

The family is inviting anyone who cared for Luke or who was touched by his life to the ceremony, and to his favorite restaurant, Newport Rib Co., 2196 Harbor Blvd., at 6 p.m.

He is survived by his mother, Jennifer, and his brothers, Cole and JJ.