Last week we told you about Spring Hill teen with a rare lung disease awaiting a double lung transplant. Ali Berkey finally got the call that she would get her new lungs and underwent a 15 hour surgery at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital.
The surgery was a huge success and the recovery process has begun. Her parents posted an update on Facebook yesterday, saying doctors got Ali on her feet for the first time Wednesday with a goal of taking 5-10 steps, but Ali surprised them and went all the way down the hall, and back.
They report x-rays are looking good and they are camping out in the hospital for now due to restriction in place because of COVID-19. They continue to urge people wanting to help to make a donation to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, who assists kids that need lifesaving transplants. Ali’s surgery will cost more than one million dollars. That doesn’t include a lifetime of doctors visits and medication. Make a donation if you are able. We’ll keep you posted on Ali’s progress in the coming weeks.
