Lucas: About Luke Maye

Twenty-year-old Austin Marine scrunched up his forehead and thought. Tomorrow would be his 21stbirthday, and he would spend it at UNC Children's Hospital. His family had made extensive plans for an extravagant 21stbirthday party at home, since doctors had been telling Austin for years that he'd probably never reach the age of 21.

But now the party wouldn't happen, because he was in the hospital yet again. One of the nurses helping take care of him, Elsie Ruehle, asked Austin a very simple question. If he couldn't go home to have his party, what could be done to make his day special?

"You could get Luke Maye to come visit me," he said. It was one of those far-fetched requests, like a pony or a…