My name is EJ, and I want to share the story of someone who means a great deal to me — my dear friend, Dr. Ron Ko.
Dr. Ko has always been the kind of person who quietly gives everything he can to others. As a dentist, he helped those who couldn’t afford care — sometimes paying for treatments himself. At church, he saw how people gathered over coffee after service, so he bought an espresso machine with his own money and served coffee every Sunday just to make others feel welcome.
He supported single mothers by dining at restaurants that gave back to women in crisis. He prayed with his children every night. He lifted up everyone around him — with kindness, generosity, and humility.
But on March 21, 2024, everything changed.
Dr. Ko went in for a surgery to remove a benign tumor from his spine. It was considered low-risk. But something went horribly wrong.
He came out paralyzed from the chest down.
Now he can’t walk. He can’t sit up without support. He can’t control his body. He needs help to do everything — from getting dressed to going to the bathroom. His wife told me, “He keeps apologizing to the nurses… I’ve never seen him apologize so much in my life.”
But the moment that broke all our hearts was this:
Dr. Ko told us, “I promised my kids I’d always give them piggyback rides.”
Now, his children come to him and say, “Daddy, when will you give us a piggy back
ride again?”
As he told us that story, he cried. His wife cried. We all cried with him.
He told me, “I just hope this only happens to me — not to anyone else.”
That’s why we’re here.
This fundraiser is not about money — it’s about coming together as a community. It’s about love, prayer, and showing Dr. Ko that he’s not alone.
We originally called this the $1 Challenge, because we wanted anyone to feel like they could take part — without pressure. But GoFundMe has a $5 minimum, so now we’re calling it the $5 Challenge. And if you can’t give — that’s okay.
Please share this story. Please pray. That’s what matters most.
Every dollar, every share, every prayer — it all helps carry Dr. Ko forward.
He spent his life lifting others. Now, it’s our turn to lift him.
With all my heart,
– EJ
Organizer and beneficiary
