Gerald’s second breath
Pictured with his mother Lynn and father Fitzgerald, Gerald McQueen, Jr. was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis the day of his first birthday, 13 years ago. During that time he has endured many hospitalizations and countless procedures.
If 14-year-old Gerald McQueen is lucky, he’ll live to see his 19th birthday.
That’s if his spot on the organ wait list turns up two lungs for the double lung transplant he may soon need.
Gerald has cystic fibrosis, an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. CF is caused by a defective gene that causes the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections, while also obstructing the pancreas and stopping natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.
He was diagnosed with the CF on his first birthday.
Gerald was admitted to Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children more than 30 days ago because of a series of ailments, which led to the flu and later, gallstones.
While his ninth-grade classmates at Discovery Middle School were enjoying spring break, Gerald underwent two operations on March 15 to have his gall bladder and appendix removed.
“He came in because his oxygen scores were low,” said Gerald’s mother, Lynn McQueen.
McQueen described her son as outgoing, caring and social. She said Gerald hates to miss school and be away from his friends. His friends and the community can receive updates on Gerald’s condition by visiting his Facebook page, “Friends in support of Gerald McQueen’s Double Lung Transplant.”
Once lungs become available, he and his mother will travel to St. Louis Mo., where the operation will be performed.
But before that can happen, doctors informed McQueen that Gerald needed to be in “a certain range of illness” before they can go ahead with the transplant.
According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as many as 90 percent of people with CF are live one year after transplantation, and 50 percent live for at least five years. McQueen said they’re trying to wait it out as long as they can.
“This is not easy,” McQueen said. “(Doctors) didn’t expect him to live past age seven. He is such a fighter that he may beat those odds and that’s what we have to continue to pray for and set our sites for.”
Gerald’s parents make sure doctors talk to him and let him know what’s going on with his body.
“He knows every aspect of the disease,” McQueen said. “He’s a trooper and he goes with the flow. There are times when he gets down, but that doesn’t last long. He’s right back in it.”
The community has come together to raise money for Gerald. He and his mother are moving to St. Louis for the operation and will need money to help cover out-of-pocket expenses such as medication co-pays, living expenses and daily needs that Gerald will incur. The cost of his surgery will be $800,000, which his mother said the insurance would cover most of that expense.
Gerald’s father and sister will have to remain here to continue to attend school and work.
Gerald will return to school in the next few days, where he’ll resume his daily life until he gets the call about available lungs.
Eighteen is his lucky number.
“Gerald has had 17 surgeries in his lifetime and he said he hopes his lung transplant will be his 18th and final surgery,” McQueen said. “It’s going to work.”
To help Gerald and his family with expenses, click here to visit his foundation’s website.
