Ali Briskey, a Valley mother and singer, has reclaimed her voice following a double lung transplant at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Diagnosed with scleroderma in 2014, an autoimmune disease that can lead to the hardening of internal organs, Briskey’s condition escalated, necessitating the urgent medical procedure. According to a report by ABC15, within a mere three days of being added to the transplant list, a match was found, and the surgery was performed.
Following her transplant, Briskey, 41, faced formidable challenges in her recovery. Stripped of the ability to speak for about 48 days, Briskey's journey to rehabilitation included relearning the most basic of functions – from speaking to walking. With the support of her husband, family, and an outpouring of community aid, she began the painstaking process of reclaiming her vitality and her passion for singing. In a statement obtained by 12 News, Briskey shared how being in and out of hospitals became the new norm for her life, which included a staggering 106-day hospital stay.
The complexities of Briskey's medical procedure at Norton Thoracic Institute were emphasized by Dr. Leena Pawar of St. Joseph's Norton Thoracic Institute, who noted that Briskey's "numbers were already on the higher side," as per 12 News. Quickly receiving the transplant after being listed, Briskey now reflects on the gratitude felt toward her anonymous donor and credits her recovery to her faith, family, and community's support.
As she continues to recover and regain her strength, Briskey is enlivened by the time spent with her family and slowly getting back into the rhythm of life—and music. She told 12 News, "For me, the biggest part of this journey was to be around for my family, but to watch these boys that we've created, watch them grow up and become incredible humans." The mother of boys concluded that faith and positivity can carry someone through the direst circumstances.
