Unaka Meet Ann Lukens, a woman who has spent her life helping others. Until one day, when she found herself in need of help.
In 2009, it was a work day at the rescue squad like any other – until she was discovered lying on the ground, unconscious.
Lukens had fallen off of a ladder and hit the ground hard. The ladder was placed properly and locked. There was no slipping or scraping on the wall from movement.
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Perhaps there was a medical reason for the fall, but she just doesn’t know. She fell on a concrete floor in which there was also a concrete curb.
Lukens suffered multiple traumas to her body. She shattered an arm that had to be repaired using medical hardware. Although she also had cracked ribs, most of the damage was to her face.
“I had more than nine fractures in my upper and lower jaw. I broke my cheekbone and pushed a lot of those bones through my left ear,” she said.
“The cleft of my chin was pushed out, and there was an opening under my chin. The major laceration was also under my chin.”
‘Face full of hardware’
The damage was extensive, requiring multi reconstructive surgeries. Lukens’ jaw was rubber-banded once and wired shut twice. The rubber-banding allowed for a bit more flexibility when eating.
“I have a face full of hardware, and also had serious infections in my face that required removal of the hardware,” she said.
Lukens lost nine teeth and had seven root canals as a result of the trauma. After extensive dental work, she had to wear braces for more than two years in order to realign her teeth.
She does not remember the incident with the exception of Warren Golden, a minister and member of the rescue squad.
“He prayed over me, and I remember that so clearly,” Lukens said. She also recalls that it took a long time to get an IV started on her.
Today, Lukens is in constant pain, which worsens with weather changes and what she eats. She has limitations on foods and cannot eat raw vegetables, bagels and other items.
Lukens gets physically ill if she looks down from a height. She doesn’t climb ladders anymore if she doesn’t have to.
‘Look for the light’
Lukens jokes with others by saying, “If you’re gonna really screw-up, do it in a building full of paramedics and a minister.”
Her advice to others suffering from an injury is, “You’ve just got to look for the light in it all.” She is grateful to be able to continue doing what she loves.
“I’m very fortunate my face looks relatively normal. Part of my face moves a little slower than the others, and my smile is uneven, but most people don’t even notice,” Lukens said. “Being alive is a blessing. Being able to do my fire and rescue work is a blessing.”
She is very optimistic; as a child she was called Happy.
“I had the belief all along that I’d be OK,” Lukens said. “You have to remind yourself every single day that there are people that have it a lot worse. I see it in my job all the time.”
She has spent time as a medical social worker specializing in the elderly, and a volunteer for fire rescue as well as transport services and child protective services. Today, Lukens is the chief of the Unaka Volunteer Fire Department.
Ten years from now, she sees herself still continuing to help her fellow man.
Lukens was born in upstate New York in 1964. She is married with three grown children and four grandchildren. She enjoys her German shepherd Rix, gardening, volunteering with Reach of Cherokee & Graham Counties as well as sitting on several foundation boards. She was previously involved with the Rotary Club of Murphy.
About the accident, she said, “Lean on friends and family and get a counselor. Trauma affects you in so many ways.”