First, we'd like to introduce ourselves; our names are Liz and Jaimie, and Lee is a dear friend and neighbor.

We first met Lee Davis about 5 years ago at Superfine, our friend's restaurant in DUMBO, Brooklyn. He had recently had his first heart attack in Los Angeles and had moved back to Brooklyn, where he was working on a documentary series.

Lee and I (Liz) met when he was looking for an apartment, and I introduced him to a friend who was subletting her apartment in our neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn. We introduced Lee to friends and neighbors, and he quickly became a fun, welcomed friend in our community. For a while, Jaime trained Lee in boxing to help get his strength back!

This was at the start of the pandemic shutdown.

Unknown to us, his heart condition led to chronic kidney failure, and it worsened. It soon led to dialysis three times a week from 6 am to 9 am. He soldiered on, and after early morning dialysis, he commuted to work via bike or ferry and worked a full day before arriving home at 7:30 pm.

Lee was on the kidney transplant list.

In February 2024, he suffered a second heart attack, landing him in the hospital. Surgeons performed triple bypass heart surgery. He recovered and went through months of physical therapy, regaining the leg strength to walk again.

After four years at his job, he was laid off in September. He had to deplete his savings to pay rent, bills, and keep the lights on, all while frantically searching for work.

Shockingly, in mid-November, he received a call from the hospital in the pre-dawn hours: Doctors found a match to a new kidney. Lee had to pack a bag, make arrangements for his pup, and get to the hospital before the transplant would be given to the next person on the donor list.

A day later, he was on the operating room table. When he woke, he was unable to speak or move his extremities. Doctors were shouting his name repeatedly, looking for signs of life. Apparently, an undetected infection had caused his body to crash, and life-preserving measures had to be undertaken.

Today, Lee is at home recovering, with weekly doctor visits and blood tests, along with a battery of daily drugs to prevent kidney rejection.

Because of the shock and trauma to the body, Lee's legs are weaker. He walks with some balance issues, making simple tasks like carrying groceries or walking his dog difficult. It will likely be months before his walking is back to normal.

He has applied for disability, but it’s a long process, and he won’t get an update for another six to nine months.

If you know Lee, you know he is a very private person. He was reluctant to share his current financial situation. However, we convinced him that after facing so many medical challenges and spending so much time in hospitals and at home recovering, the importance of connection and sharing continued struggles with those who wish to help can be healing in itself.

So we decided to help. We hope that by reaching out to the broader community, heartfelt donations could help offset some of the costs until he is back on his feet and able to work.

This past October, The Red Hook Cinema Festival showcased a film written and directed by Lee, followed by an audience Q&A; 3am starring Danny Glover, Pam Grier, and Michelle Rodriguez. It was such a cool moment having Lee share his passion and talent with the community he has grown such a part of.

Lee always talks about how supportive Red Hook is, but we believe his community is even bigger. We think there are supportive friends near and far who might want to help.

THANK YOU for taking time to read about our friend Lee.

If you can donate, please do. If you can't, please pass this on.

With much gratitude,

Liz Galvin & Jaimie Walker