by: Marty Chrisman
The ringing of the telephone awoke Jesse from a sound sleep. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up hurrying to answer it. A phone call in the middle of the night always meant bad news and he felt his heart beating frantically in his chest. As he started down the stairs, he saw Daisy come out of her room and hurrying after him. He knew they had the same thing on their minds. The call had to be about Luke.
“Duke farm. This is Jesse Duke speaking.”
“Mr. Duke, this is the Atlanta Medical Center. I’m calling about your nephew, Luke Duke.”
“What about him?”
“The doctor thinks you should get here as soon as you can. Your nephew’s suffered a stroke. They’re taking him into emergency surgery and there’s a chance he may not survive.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.” Jesse told her, hanging up abruptly
“Luke?” Daisy asked in an anxious voice looking at her Uncle with eyes that begged him to tell her that it wasn’t more bad news.
“He’s had a stroke. They took him into surgery but he may not make it.”
Daisy stifled a cry as she ran back up the stairs to get dressed. Jesse followed her more slowly, his step heavy. His wife, Martha, had died of a stroke. He knew how deadly they could be and how quickly they could kill. He listed his eyes towards heavenWhy this, God? Why now? How much more could Luke be expected to go through and still survive? If you’re going to take him, then take him but please don’t let him keep on suffering like this.
Daisy drove and they made it to the hospital in Atlanta in record time. Then all they could do was wait for news on Luke’s condition. Jesse sat on one of the sofas and stared at the wall, while Daisy paced the floor nervously. They were both terrified that they were about to lose Luke. And that just didn’t seem right after everything he’d already been through.
Dawn was breaking when a nurse came over to Jesse and said,
“Are you Mr. Duke?”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Jesse said, rising to his feet and looked at her for some sign of news about Luke but her expression was unreadable.
“Dr. Malone would like to see you in his office. He said you knew where it was.”
“Yes, I do.” Jesse said. Daisy and Jesse hurried down the hall to the doctor’s office and went inside. The doctor looked at them and motioned for them to sit down. He looked tired himself and he was still dressed in his surgical scrubs. Daisy noticed that the blouse was stained with blood and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was Luke’s blood.
“Don’t ask me how but he’s still alive.” The doctor told them causing them both to let out the breath they had been holding and breath a deep sigh of relief. “There was a blood clot at the site of the skull fracture and that’s what caused the stroke. We got all of the clot out but this increases his chances of having some kind of brain damage.” The doctor sighed wearily “So, what we’ve done is put him into a deep medically induced coma. In other words, we are giving him medication to put him in the coma. Hopefully, this will give his body time to get stronger and do some healing without any more complications. Because I will be honest with you, his body can’t take any more trauma. This is the fourth major surgery in a little over a week. Most people have enough trouble recovering from one major surgery.”
“But you said he’s still alive.” Jesse said
“Yes, but I’ll be damned if I know how. He should have died three different times since he was admitted and he still manages to hang on somehow but if anything else happens I don’t think he’ll make it the next time. This surgery combined with stroke has weakened him so much that unless we keep him in the coma and on life support until he gets stronger…. he will die. And the next time there won’t be any bringing him back” The doctor sound frustrated and upset. “I also had pace maker put in to make sure his heartbeat stays stabilized. Once he’s stronger, we remove that but for now his heart is even too weak to beat properly on it’s own.”
“But this coma you got him in on purpose will help?” Jesse asked to make sure he understood the doctor correctly
“That’s what we’re hoping. The medication we’re giving him to keep him in the coma will also keep him from trying to wake up on his own. And hopefully give his body the time it needs to get stronger and start healing.”
“How long will he have to stay the way you have him now?” Daisy asked
“I’d say at least two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” Daisy said feeling her heart sink. That seemed like a lifetime under the present circumstances.
“I know that seems like a long time but his body needs that time to rest.” The doctor told them gently “He will be monitored constantly, a nurse will check on him every ten minutes. I’m sorry. I really wish I could give you some good news for a change.”
“We know you’re doing the best you can. That’s all we can ask for.” Jesse said somberly “Can we see him?”
“No, not right now. I’d rather he rest for at least 24 hours and even when you do go in to see him, he’s not going to even know you’re there.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Jesse said “Come on, Daisy girl. Let’s go home. We still need to go see Bo and let him know how Luke’s doing.”