Somerville Man Getting Double Lung Transplant, Community Rallies

On Nov, 30, friends, family and community members gathered at On the Hill Tavern to help raise money for a Somerville man who's heading to Pittsburgh this month for a major medical procedure.

Longtime Somervillian Michael Terrio, in 2007, was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and told he only had three years to live.

Six years later, he's ready to pursue a cure—a double lung transplant.

He's traveling to Pittsburgh for the procedure, but it's not that simple. After a week of tests, he'll be put on a transplant list, and could wait weeks, if not months, for a new set of lungs.

That's why his friends and family are trying to raise money to help out with travel costs and living expenses over the next few months, not just for Terrio, but for his girlfriend, Cookie, who will be taking off time from work to be with Terrio in Pittsburgh.

In addition to the recent fundraising event, supporters have organized a GoFundMe campaign, with the goal of raising $10,000. As of Wednesday they were close.

You can visit the GoFundMe page here.