Always Attract (Chapter 82)
One Year Later
So I put my hands up
They're playing my song,
And the butterflies fly away
I'm noddin' my head like yeah
I'm movin' my hips like yeah
I got my hands up,
They're playin' my song
I know I'm gonna be OK
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Yeah, it's a party in the USA
Luke laughed as he passed over the Eads Bridge into St. Louis before rejoining in the song.
Get to the club in my taxi cab
Everybody's looking at me now
Like "Who's that chick, that's rockin' kicks?
She gotta be from out of town"
He shook his head as he pulled out the CD and tossed it into the seat next to him. He loved his little sister, but that was definitely the last time he let Natalie make his “Road Mix” for him. He glanced up at the signs overhead and followed the one saying “70 West”. He’d been on the road for hours and all he wanted was a hot shower and a place to pee.
Twenty-five minutes later, he finally made it to his destination; Ameristar Casino. It was where he would be staying for an undisclosed amount of time. He would be taking up residence in one of the suites while his next project came to fruition; a project that he wanted to handle personally. Throughout all of his struggles, the foundation had been somewhat neglected, but he was determined to keep it successful and help people as much as possible in the process.
His suitcase was thrown open on his bed as he was attempting to unpack. Meanwhile, his phone alerted that he had a new text message. He chuckled as he opened up the message and saw that it was from Matt.
Happy Birrrrttthhhhddaaayy!!! 25! Enjoy the decrease in car insurance. It all goes downhill from there! ;)
He typed out a quick reply:
Shove it Parker! Although, you would know, wouldn’t you? You’ll be hitting the big
3-0 in a couple years. :P
Before he even had a chance to throw his phone back down, it chirped again.
Now that’s just cruel Luke.
He laughed and tossed his phone aside. As much as he’d love to continue that conversation, he had a meeting to go to and would rather not be late.
Forty-five minutes later, he was freshly showered and dressed in a pair of black slacks and a deep burgundy buttoned down dress shirt. Another 15 minutes later and he was pulling in to the parking lot of Ranken Jordan. When he read about Ranken Jordan and their need of housing for families of their patients, he was immediately on board with wanting to help. It was an amazing pediatric hospital that gave hope to people when they were pretty much left with none. They treat children and teens who have suffered from serious burns, spinal chord injuries, loss of limbs, traumatic brain injuries, pre-natal drug exposure, and physical abuse or neglect as well as a handful of other conditions. Many of their patients are children that have come from other hospitals. They also offer a variety of outpatient services and rehabilitation. What struck Luke the most was the environment of the hospital. Everyone cares; from the doctors, to the nurses, to the volunteers. It would could be considered such a sad and depressing environment, but the hospital and all of the staff that work there have tried to give it as much life as humanly possible. The space is open and inviting. Many walls are painted with bright colors. Rooms are structurally built to feel modern and whimsical. Playgrounds can be found both outside and in as well as many toys. Even the outside of the building is playful. At night, lights are projected onto the outside walls to cause the building to “glow” in different colors. It’s a place that genuinely treats the “whole” patient. Basically, it’s a place that screams Luke Snyder.
He had met with Laureen Tanner, the President of the hospital, previously in Oakdale. She traveled the distance the first time in hopes of getting the Luke Snyder Foundation to back their new project. She had explained that the hospital wanted to build some sort of apartment complex or homes where families of their inpatients could stay. Right now, the only thing they had set up was two options; one which included that they could put a family up in a hotel room and the other was a place called Haven House, which was created to house families that were receiving medical care in town. While Haven House had done a lot for many people, they wanted something on campus where parents or grandparents could be closer and also have the freedom of privacy if need be. After hearing stories of past and present patients and what kind of work the center does, he immediately agreed to help and the foundation was now backing its first project in over two years.
It wasn’t enough to just promise the money though. Luke wanted a hands on experience in the architecture and what would be offered to the families that would be residing there. He made the decision to oversee the project personally until it was completed, so here he was. He was meeting with Brett Moorehouse, the Chief Operating Officer for Ranken Jordan. He was going to be getting a tour of the ground and facilities. Then they would all meet with the architecture they had picked to complete the project and they would begin to sketch out ideas for the hospital’s new addition.
“Mr. Snyder?”
Luke turned around to see a middle-aged man walking towards him. “Mr. Moorehouse I presume?”
He nodded as the two shook hands. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Luke replied in kind.
“Did you want to start the tour first or go over paperwork?”
“Tour,” Luke smiled. “Definitely.”
*
“I’ve never seen babies this small,” Luke marveled at the little life in the incubator. “What’s his name?” he asked.
“He doesn’t have one.”
Luke frowned and looked confused. “Why not?”
“This little one,” he explained. “was neglected at birth. He was found in a trashcan. It’s a miracle he survived at all.”
“That’s horrible. Who would do such a thing?”
“It happens more than people think it does. He’s severely underweight. He wasn’t born dependent on drugs, which is a blessing, but he also probably didn’t receive any pre-natal care. He has trouble breathing on his own still. Being found where he was he was exposed to different toxins and parasites. He’s experiencing failure to thrive. Everything that he’s been through, combined with emotional deprivation from his parent’s rejection, his body and his mind doesn’t know what to do.”
Luke tilted his head and stared at the tiny, still body. “What will happen to him, if they can’t turn it around I mean?”
“Worst case scenario,” he said, “he’ll die. If they do manage to turn it around, it just depends. The longer a child stays in this condition, the more side effects they have when they’re older. The longer he stays like this, the more chance there is of him experiencing permanent mental, emotional, or physical delays. His social skills will be damaged. It’ll also take him longer to learn how to sit up or roll….eventually walk. If he were to stay in this state for a shorter amount of time, he has every chance of leading a normal life. It’s difficult though. Medicine can only do so much. In babies like this, what they need most is human affection and love. The nurses around here try to take him out and hold him flush against their skin so he can form a connection with them, but he doesn’t seem to be taking to the interaction very well. With the nutrients he’s being provided, his weight should be higher, but in his case, the psychological effects have seem to outweighed everything else and now the physical has been upset because of it.”
Luke reached his hand into the incubator and stroked the tiny hand, brushing away a stray tear on his cheek with the other.
“It’s a very difficult atmosphere to be in sometimes. A lot of us have seen and been through many things, but this,” he said gesturing around him, “is a whole other ballgame. I’ve seen the toughest of grown men come in here and break down after taking a walk through the burn unit. We had a group of paramedics in here one day when one of the kids stopped breathing. Unfortunately the child didn’t make it. There wasn’t a dry eye amongst them. One of the older ones had said that in all of his years on the job, he’d never cried until that very moment. We’re a family around here. We try to provide that atmosphere with everyone that comes in these walls. Walking through these halls can be the hardest thing you ever do, but we also know it’s not about us, it’s about them. Now you know why we try to give them the best, happiest experience they can get. These children and their families need to feel safe and taken care of. Their lights have basically been dimmed and we try to turn them back on for them. Now we’re not naïve. These children will never be the same again. Most of them will be permanently disfigured or suffer some form of brain damage from mild to severe. We know that, their families know that, and they know it. But, if we can help them get better to where they can go through and function through life; not just function, but be happy….that’s all we’re trying to do here.”
Luke cleared his throat. “It’s incredible. Really…all of it. I think I’m ready to see that paperwork though.”
Brett nodded and led Luke away from the NICU area.
*
“What about the doctors?” Luke asked. “You said that a lot of the doctors here actually work for other hospitals, but come in to help?”
“They do. A great deal of the patients here have been treated first by other doctors in other hospitals, but when things look more long term or look as if the patient may thrive in an environment more like our own, then they suggest they come here. A lot of times, those doctors will come and still work with the patients.”
“Would they need apartments? Would that be more convenient for them?”
Brett shook his head. “No. Very rarely do we have a doctor from outside the area come in. Most of the doctors that deal with the patients are local.”
Luke nodded. “I guess that settles that then. So, at most you usually have about 40 patients that actually stay full-time on campus. The rest come in for rehabilitation?”
“That’s right. I think forty apartments would be enough. As of right now, we don’t have any plans of expanding the number. Plus, some of our inpatients are local, so their families already have homes.”
“We could do two buildings. Connect them through a passage way or bridge. Once you go across it, it splits; five floors each, with four apartments on each floor. Each apartment can be open and modern sort of like the inside of here.”
“That would be good; familiar for them as well.”
“Maybe a sixth floor,” Luke said thoughtfully. “We can have the bottom floor of each be recreational. Maybe a media room or common living space for adults who want to take their mind off things or do want company. It can have an adjoining playroom for other kids they might have with them. Maybe a pool as well, so they can go swimming during the winter too.”
“It would definitely be amazing for the families if we could do all that.”
“John,” Luke said directing his attention to the architect they hired for the project. “Could you draw something up? Maybe create a mock model of each individual apartment and what you think would work and also of a bottom recreational floor?”
“Absolutely Mr. Snyder.”
“Good then,” Luke nodded. “Let’s get started.”
*
“We really wanted to thank you again for your foundation’s help Mr. Snyder,” Mr. Moorehouse said shaking Luke’s hand again.
“It really is our pleasure. Since we will be working together though, I insist that you call me Luke. Formalities have seem to be left behind in here, which is how I like it, so please. You can call me by my first name as well.
“Of course,” he said. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting to go to, but feel free to stay as long as you like.”
“Thank you.”
Luke walked around, staring up at the high ceilings over the opened sitting area. He really did love it here. He also couldn’t help but to grow inexplicably sad though at the thought of all of the hurt and broken children that went in and out (or sometimes just in) the area everyday. But, he was also grateful to be given the opportunity to do something that might make the experience a little better or easier for those involved. He smiled to himself, feeling good about getting the foundation going again when something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention; or someone. His smile grew even bigger as he watched the man hand over a clipboard to another nurse. When the man turned around, he tilted his head in confusion at the sight of Luke. Luke just laughed and mouthed ‘hi’ before standing up and walking over, the man doing the same, met him halfway.
“Luke…..what are you doing here?” he said disbelieving, but genuinely happy.
“I’m here on business.” His smile continued to brighten. “You look good Reid.”
****Ranken Jordan is a real hospital in St. Louis county. It’s about five minutes from my house and it really is AMAZING. The work that they do there and everything that I described is unbelievable. It can also be a very sad place at times. The older paramedic that I mentioned, who had never cried in all his years on the job until they were called there and lost one of the kids was actually based on one of my Uncle’s stories of his own personal on the job experience. He’s worked for our fire district for years and is now one of the higher ups, but he still labels that as the worst experience they’ve ever had. The outside of the building actually does light up in different colors. I’m linking you to the website if you’d like to check out the hospital. The pictures of the outside and inside they have, don’t do it justice, but it gives you an idea of the work that they do there. Also, they’ve actually had plans to build on-site housing for the inpatient families for awhile now, so while I can’t really do anything about it in the real world, Luke Snyder is giving it to them in the fic world, lol.
http://www.rankenjordan.org/Default.aspx