Bring Alby Home

Anyone lucky enough to have met Alby knows what a kind and giving friend he is. Someone generous with his time, energy and knowledge, and someone who cares deeply for those he holds close, especially his family. Someone honest and real, compassionate and understanding. Someone who has opened his home to many and always checked in with those who needed support during their darkest times, as has been the case for me personally.

 

Alby has had a very tough few years as many know. First, a lung cancer diagnosis, which has resulted in ongoing treatment and challenges - a fight he has been moving through with grace and stoicism. Unfortunately, on 14 February 2022, he was taken to hospital, suddenly having forgotten who he was and extremely ill. After weeks with no answer, he was finally diagnosed with Autoimmune Encephalitis, caused by his lung cancer medication. His immune system sadly attacked his brain and caused significant inflammation. It’s a very serious condition that causes major complications, and Alby nearly lost his life to it.

 

Once the immediate risk to Alby's life passed, he was moved out of intensive care and into a neurology ward. After 6 weeks, he started to eat meals, after being fed with a tube. Although he is improving slightly following 3 weeks of rehabilitation and he can now stand, he has significant brain impairment and will require continuous care at this point. Unfortunately the doctors don’t believe he has improved enough to be able to attend further rehabilitation and he is not eligible for disability funding. Additionally, his care is not something that will be able to be managed at home by his loving family and it has been suggested he will need to live in an aged care home - if and until such time he shows enough improvement to attend rehabilitation again. It is important to mention that while Alby was making some minor improvements, his progress has been halted since his therapists stopped coming to him. This is a significant cost his family simply cannot afford.

 

So, it’s time for us to dig deep for this beautiful man, who many have shared the stage with over the years, and anyone just fortunate enough to have shared life with him. He gave a lot of musicians their start at the residencies he hosted and deserves to be able to start again with the support of a community he cared so much for.

Financial assistance would go towards Alby’s immediate care needs, as well as help support his family to give him the best chance at recovery. At the moment it all feels quite impossible for the Pool family - so let’s give them the support and love they have given so many. Any support would be received with gratitude and all funds will go straight to supporting Alby’s recovery.

Please note the beneficiary is Jane Blackford, Annie and Alby’s sister, who will be delivering the donations to Alby/using the money to pay for all the services he receives as he needs them. 

 

Thank you x