Al's Blog-o-Sphere

Al is still in surgery. That’s according to schedule. I’m hanging out in a “Family Waiting Room” where I was told to stay so the surgeon could find me if needed. It’s nice. There are a few other people here that spent the night. There are pillows and blankets to help make the couches comfortable. It was a nearly full house this morning when I first got here.

I got a nap for a while, the went to the cafeteria. I called the Family Services to let them know I was going there, just in case they needed me. They seem to have a system to keep tabs on you here, so I went along with it and called. Continue Reading…

I’ve never talked about this here before, but I think this might be a good thing to do right now. I’m sitting in a waiting room at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) while my son Al is undergoing a double lung transplant.

He’s 32 years old and has had Cystic Fibrosis all his life. This was not unexpected, but it’s been something that’s been on the horizon for so long, it never felt like it was something that would actually ever happen. But here we are and it’s real.

Al was understandably nervous. He had been resolute in his decision to get the transplant since he decided to go ahead with it a few months ago. But, of course, when reality was in front of him and he was sitting on the gurney getting poked and prodded, it all sunk in. But he stuck with it and is going through with it. Continue Reading…