McQueen needs public’s help to breathe easily
Gerald McQueen’s health is slowly declining and will be relocating to St. Louis, MO to be placed on a lung transplant list. (CONTRIBUTED)
By Aldo Amato
Staff Reporter
MADISON — Some kids cannot wait to reach the age of 16 so that they can begin the steps of becoming an adult.
For Bob Jones junior Gerald McQueen, reaching the milestone means so much more.
McQueen suffers from a disease called cystic fibrosis (CF). This is a disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. Cystic fibrosis 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.
McQueen’s mother Lynn said she hopes the benefit, scheduled for April 27, goes through. The benefit is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at 1 Lake Forest Lane Boulevard in Huntsville and will include dinner and dancing.
“Right now it is a bit of touch and go,” she said. “But we still hope to have it because we will be a great way to help in Gerald’s recovery.”
McQueen, who is an environmental science teacher at Whitesburg Middle School in Huntsville, said Gerald’s condition has declined significantly and will be transferred to St. Louis Children’s Hospital on May 30.
“He’s had the disease since he was only a year old,” she said. “Usually he was in and out of the hospital about every six months. Over the past two years he’s been in and out all the time.”
One thing McQueen said she is proud of her son and his resiliency through this trying time.
“If you look at Gerald, you could not tell anything was wrong with him,” she said. “When he is out of the hospital, he is able to do your every day high school things. He’s been to prom, dances and likes to play basketball.”
McQueen said she will relocate with Gerald to be in a two mile radius of the hospital and that he now meets the criteria to have a lung transplant.
For more information on the potential benefit or to make a donation, go to www.geralds2ndbreath.com.
