Brad Boorer, 40, is “going well” according to his wife Jo, having moved into a general ward after weeks in intensive care following the six-hour operation on February 14.

The couple’s children, Charlie, about to turn 12, and Chloe, aged 10,  were able to visit him on the weekend and Brad posted on Facebook for the first time in weeks.

The family has been enveloped in love and generosity from their community.

“It’s crazy, it’s unbelievable, we are just normal people,” said Jo.

“The schools have been amazing with the children. We just live in an amazing town.

“We can’t thank our families, our friends and our community enough for looking out for us. We’ve had hundreds of texts, phone calls and Facebook messages, visits and affection.

“It certainly all makes a difference to us. Brad just thought he was a regular guy at home by himself, he was quite withdrawn when he got sick and then he just put a status up about his condition and the response was amazing.”

Unfortunately Brad is no stranger to hospitals, having undergone a bone marrow transplant as part of treatment for leukemia when he was just 23. He developed a lung condition about 10 years ago and his condition was slowly deteriorating before a lung transplant was considered.

He was deemed suitable for a transplant and was officially placed on the register on Friday, February 10 this year and received the phone call that was to change the family’s lives, just days later on February 14.

A Facebook page, Help Bradley Breathe was set up to raise funds to ease the family’s financial burdens. The page also has regular updates on Brad’s condition from Jo and Brad himself.

Jo is a Registered Nurse at the Mater Hospital and Brad is a mechanic who had started his own car restoration business, having to give this up before Christmas due to his progressing illness 

A benefit night at the Golf Club  this weekend is completely sold out but people can still attend a barbecue at the Tin Shed Brewery from 4.30pm this Friday, hosted by Dungog High and Public Schools

A Car/Bike Show and Shine Day will be held in Dowling Street on Saturday March 18 with a gold coin donation entry, sausage sizzle, auction and stubby holders and raffle tickets for sale.

Jo urged people to consider becoming an organ donor.

“Talk to your family but make sure you are on the registry at Donate Life,” she said.

“Without that gift to Brad we don’t know where we would be.

“Things were pretty grim.”