by: Marty Chrisman

Three days later, Luke was transferred by ambulance from Lexington to a long term care facility just outside of Atlanta.  The rest of the Duke family had gone home the day before. Late the following afternoon, the facility called to let them know that Luke had arrived and was now in Atlanta. The woman Jesse spoke to asked the family to wait until the following day before they came to the facility to see Luke so that the staff would have time to get him settled in. She told Jesse that she would meet with them at ten o’clock the next morning to explain the facilities role in continuing with Luke’s care.

Shortly before ten the next morning, Bo pulled the General Lee into a large parking lot in front of a facility called “Indian Falls” It was a long one story building with spacious well cared for landscaping. Inside it was obvious that care had been taken to keep the facility from looking like what it really was. The colors were bright and cheerful and there was even a dog wandering through the halls. And most of the staff was dressed in casual clothes instead of uniforms, identified only by the name badges pinned to their shirts. But in spite of the efforts to camouflage the purpose of the building, the Dukes still knew why Luke was here.

A pretty brunette with blue eyes and a trim figure saw them come in and went up to them immediately. “You must be the Duke family.” She said with a welcoming smile. “I’m Linda Manning, Luke’s case worker. Why don’t we go back to my office so we can talk for a bit and then you can see Luke.”

The family followed her down the hallway to a corner office. She ushered them inside and closed the door. The office was tastefully decorated with a couch and three comfortable chairs instead of a desk and the usual office furnishings. A computer sat on a stand in one corner of the room. It could easily have been someone’s living room instead of someone’s office. The Dukes sat on the sofa with Linda sitting in one of the chairs across from them.

“Alright, first of all I would like to tell you that our facility is designed specifically for the care of patients in Luke’s condition. Our goal is to do whatever is necessary to help Luke come out of the coma and get back to his normal life as soon as possible.”

“Then you think he’s gonna wake up?” Bo asked anxiously

“I’m sure he will…eventually. Unfortunately there is no way to predict when that will happen. Most people are only in a coma for a short period of time, a few days or few weeks. Luke has already been in a coma for almost three weeks. That’s not good but now that he’s here, hopefully we can help change that. Our staff will be able to work more closely with him and provide more stimulation than they could have done at the hospital. And we want you as his family to be involved in that process as much as possible.” She paused to consult some notes and then continued. “Now, for the time being Luke still has a catheter and is still being tube fed. His position will be changed every hour to prevent bedsores and a physical therapist will be working with him, exercising his muscles and his arms and legs to prevent the muscles from contracting. That’s the kind of special care that they couldn’t give him in the hospital but it’s also the kind of special care he needs right now.”  She smiled at the family encouragingly “I know that this has to be hard for you but Luke is in the best place for him right now. Our success rate in this type of case is higher than any other facility of this kind in the state. Now, one more thing, then I’ll show you where Luke’s room is. I don’t want you worrying about the cost for Luke being here. Our facility is set up to accept certain cases on a free care basis and I have initiated the paperwork to make Luke one of those cases. Now, are there any questions?”

“No, ma’am.” Jesse told her “We’d just like to see Luke now.”

“I know you would so please come with me.”

They followed her out of the office and down a long hallway to room 615. Inside, they found Luke lying in a regular single bed instead of a traditional hospital bed. A second bed sat along the opposite wall. There was also a small love seat and a sofa arranged in one corner with a TV sitting on a stand. As with the rest of the facility, care had been taken to keep the room from looking like a traditional hospital room. Even the catheter and the tube inserted directly under Luke’s collarbone for his tube feedings were skillfully hidden. Luke himself was dressed in a tee shirt and sweat pants instead of a hospital gown. “We try to keep things here resembling a home atmosphere as much as possible” Linda told them with a smile. “And any of you are welcome to spend the night any time you want. That’s what the extra bed is in here for.”

“It’s not anything like I thought it would be.” Daisy admitted

“That’s the way we want it.” Linda told her “I think it’s more comfortable this way both for the family and for the patient. I’ll leave you alone now so you can visit with Luke. We don’t have any set visiting hours here you’re welcome to come by anytime day or night to be with Luke.” With a final smile, she excused herself and left the room.

“Well, it is a nice enough place.” Jesse said

“At least it doesn’t feel so much like a nursing home.” Daisy admitted, feeling more comfortable about Luke being here now that she had seen the facility.

“It still ain’t right.” Bo said gruffly “Luke still shouldn’t be here.”

“Bo, none of us wants him to have to be here.” Jesse said gently “But maybe this place really can help him.”

Bo walked over to his cousin’s side and took his hand. In a resigned voice, he said “I’m sorry, Uncle Jesse. I didn’t mean to snap at ya. I want Luke to get better too….I just don’t like the idea of him being in a place like this. It makes me feel like everybody’s saying he ain’t never gonna wake up again.”

“You can’t think like that.” Jesse said, crossing to his youngest nephew’s side and gently caressing his shoulder “You have to believe that Luke’s gonna get better.” Bo suddenly broke down in sobs and turned to throw himself in his Uncle’s comforting embrace. Jesse made soft soothing sounds and rubbed his back as he let his nephew shed his tears of fear and desperation. He knew how strong the bond between the boys were and how lost and alone Bo felt without Luke there by his side. Jesse found himself praying that this place could bring Luke back to them so they could be a family again.