"We almost lost him"
Astro watches the action on the field during a recent game.
Photo by John Downey
Like a gift from the heavens or the North Pole, Astro arrived at the airport in a crate when just 2-months old. Luke and the wonder pooch immediately connected.
"He was just so cute and lovable and cuddly right from the start," Luke said. "We've been best friends ever since."
Astro is Luke's right-hand dog just about everywhere he goes — to bed, school, workouts and even the football field.
During games, Luke's mom Lori handles Astro on a leash. During practice time, Astro has more freedom and even retrieves Luke's kicking tee.
"There's not much Astro can't do," Luke said.
Luke and his dog Astro are shown with his father Peter
and mother Lori before a recent game.
Photo by John Downey
As a pup, Astro received samples of Luke's saliva when his blood sugar was too high or too low. When Astro sniffs that smell now, he alerts Luke by bowing or pulling on a red toy that the thick 6-foot, 200-pound blonde kicker usually carries with him.
"At this point in my life, I can largely keep myself safe," Luke said. "But Astro is like a line of defense."
Astro wasn't around when Luke was in the seventh grade and spent the weekend at a friend's while celebrating a birthday.
"We were doing a bunch of physical stuff all day and during the night my blood sugar dropped way down," Luke said. "Waaay down."
His pancreas wasn't producing enough insulin. There was not enough glucose to enter cells and produce energy. Luke had a seizure — a serious one.
After a 911 call, he was rushed to emergency at Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was induced into a coma.
"We almost lost him," his father Peter Van Ginkel said.
"I have a vague memory of gaining consciousness during the seizure and trying to rip the oxygen tubes out of my throat and ripping the I.V. out of my arms," Luke said. "My mom told me that I got very combative and they had to get about four doctors to try to hold me down so they could strap me down to the bed."
Three days later, Luke awoke and was extremely sore.
"It was the most sore I've ever been in my entire life," Luke said. "It was all those convulsions trying to stay alive. It was all like a weird dream."
Within a week of the episode, Luke went to a USC football camp and won the kicking competition.
"Amazing," Peter said.
Luke's mother Lori handles Astro on a leash along the sideline.
Photo by John Downey
