Ivory Rucker is 6 ft 5 and has been described as a “Gentle Giant.” He used to be a big and tall man, but now he is just tall. He has lost weight since being in jail for almost two years. His legs and arms are thin now, but he still has those big feet. Ivory wears a size 14 shoe and those are not easy to find. When I show his picture to my friends, they all say he is handsome. He looks just like my dad. Ivory was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia in his 20’s and he is now 53.
I remember before he was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia. I remember when Ivory was just my brother, “Tre”. He was the third, named after my dad. He was on the basketball team in high school, went to college and received a degree, served in the Army and was medically discharged due to his diagnosed Paranoid Schizophrenia and worked as a Social Worker helping people like himself. Ivory was very kind and generous to his family and friends. Once, when he came home from the military, he had a huge boom box. I thought this is really nice. The speakers were large and the sound was amazing. We talked about music, while I continued to admire it. I was turning the knobs to test the volume. Ivory saw how much I liked it and told me I could have it. I was kind of shocked because I know that he liked the Boom Box too, but he would part with it to make me happy. He is a Gentle Giant. I wouldn’t accept it, but I thought it was very sweet. He had just gotten home from duty and probably felt sentimental. I felt sentimental too, so I let him keep it. I am his older sister.
Since Ivory’s diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia, there have been many changes. Ivory has suffered greatly. My mom died and HE found her DEAD. I’m sure that memory will stay with him forever. Now his safe harbor, his rock is gone. She was more than a mother to him, she was his friend and confident. He didn’t have many friends anymore due to his mental illness. Now what? He stayed in St. Louis for a while, but he was in denial about his illness. He thought he could handle it and didn’t like the way the medication made him feel. Mom was no longer there to remind or demand him to take his medication. Eventually Paranoid Schizophrenia took over. After all, Ivory went to school and had a job. He had promise. Now he can no longer work. His thoughts are disheveled and he has delusions of grandeur. He is a Politician, Attorney, Business Man, etc and rich in HIS MIND. He went from having his own key to becoming homeless. I’m visiting Ivory at Georgia Regional Hospital today and he reminds me of the condos and homes in St. Louis and Dallas that he owns. He looks perplexed and ask me about the keys to these IMAGINARY HOMES AND CONDOS. He mentions that he has had problems before getting HIS KEYS. He looks away as if he is thinking about it. The delusions and reality intertwine. He wants to leave Georgia because it is too violent. He was almost killed and thrown in Fulton County Jail, afraid to go to sleep, because he wasn’t sure he would wake up. He knew he had a concussion. He has flashbacks. He doesn’t understand why he has been locked up this long, almost two years. He tells me he is rich (IN HIS MIND) and to call his IMAGINARY lawyers in St. Louis and get him out of this hospital. The nurse attendant looks at the clock and looks at us. Thirty minutes have passed and visiting time is over. We stand up, hug, and say goodbye. Each time we both have hope that the next visit will be good news. We both hope that the good news will be Ivory, you are getting OUT.
Justice For Ivory Rucker 
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