Friends of Mac - We are devastated and in mourning along with everyone here about the loss of Mac. I was Mac's 'surgery buddy' last Friday, May 5th; Mac had the duodenal switch last Friday a.m., I had the lap Roux-NY last Friday pm. Mac was an inspiration to me both before and after surgery; his emails and support were very calming and tremendously appreciated. I believe my last words going into surgery were to ask Dr. Welker to extend my best to Mac's partner and family, and my first words coming out of surgery were to inquire as to how he was doing. My wife and I were 'right next door' in an adjoining patient room when the incidents of Saturday unfolded: all the "Code" responders at OHSU arrived en masse to work on Mac after he collapsed, and Paula and I were praying as hard as we could. I was still too ill and in pain following my lap procedure to contribute anything more than prayer; and we were and are filled with pain and extend our utmost sympathy to Mac and his partner Carolyn/Tika, and his friends and supporters. I want everyone to know that it seemed to me that few of us were more devastated than Dr. Welker, who is a brilliant, skilled, and caring surgeon and who for the first time was confronted with a situation which even his own healing skills could not cure --- the first such event in his entire distinguished bariatric surgical career. As Al M. said, there are unavoidable risks with this surgery, and those of us who walk this path have chosen to accept these risks in the interest of reclaiming our lives and loved ones. For Mac, my heartfelt love and best wishes are extended to you in the paradise of heroes and achievers who are willing to take risks for their own sake, and for their family and loved ones. Mac, on Saturday Paula and I both felt "there but for the grace of God go I", we were with you spiritually then, and we are with you spiritually now. Every hour and every day we are given to be rid of this heinous condition is worth the risk, and every hour we are free of it and on the road to recovery is a blessed hour. Blessings to you on the long and winding road, where we will surely meet in person at last.