<div><strong>Short version:</strong> I'm a teacher and writer seeking support for medical and other costs incurred during my two year fight with Long COVID. I hope to seek out new treatments to improve my quality of life. Any help is appreciated!
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<div>Long version follows, I'll try to keep it interesting and positive:
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/84633285_1746645848741634_r." width="100%" />
<div><em>(Above: my personal highlight as a host speaking with Lucy Lawless and Cornel West to support Steven Donzinger)</em>
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<div>Hello! My name is <strong>Leslie Lee III</strong>, I'm a critic, writer, journalist, and teacher. You may know me from hosting my show Struggle Session or co-hosting The Katie Halper Show, appearing as a talking head in the documentary Exegesis Lovecraft, or heard me as a guest on Doughboys, Chapo Trap House, and other fine podcasts. I've also appeared on programs for NPR, BBC, and written for Jacobin, The Japan Times, Truth Dig, and other outlets.
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<div class="youtube-replace">(<em>Above: My appearance on BBC World Have Your Say)</em>
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<div class="youtube-replace">In late 2022 I had a "mild" case of COVID. When I returned to work I experienced some lingering fatigue which I thought was normal. However, it became significantly worse over time and began to negatively effect my professional and personal life.
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<div>I spent the majority of that winter break lying down or sleeping, unable to do most of the activities my partner and I had planned for the holidays. Even when I felt physically well simple tasks, like cooking a meals or wrapping gifts, felt mentally overwhelming.
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<div>I consulted with my primary care doctor in early January 2023, and they recommended, as a way to manage my condition, that I take intermittent days off from work. While this helped me manage the physical fatigue I experienced, my cognitive fatigue continued to increase as pushed myself through work.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/84633285_1746722641662447_r." width="100%" />
<div><em>(Above: My first day as a teacher!)</em>
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<div>Teaching, which once brought me joy and purpose, became a source of immense stress and exhaustion. The standard demands of the classroom—lesson planning, grading, managing student behavior, and the constant noise and stimulation—were now insurmountable.
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<div>I began experiencing severe brain fog, cognitive fatigue, aphasia, debilitating migraines, extreme light and sound sensitivity, joint pain, among other symptoms. Even minor mental or physical exertions required extensive rest.
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<div>(Above: Masato Tanaka demonstrating what Long COVID feels like.)
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<div>The classroom environment, with its high levels of mental activity, physical demands, stress, social interaction, and sensory stimulation, became overwhelming. It was a minute-by-minute struggle to maintain the energy and patience required to teach effectively.
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<div>Upon seeing my deteriorating condition and work performance, my principal asked me to take leave beginning January that year. I spent the next several months seeking treatments and medications, though none proved significantly effective. I had hoped that time and rest would eventually allow me to recover, but I did not. Long COVID had taken hold of my life, and its impact was profound and unrelenting.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/84633285_1746723669121387_r." width="100%" />
<div><em>(Above: The first "quiz" I made, a student returned it with a cute sketch.)</em>
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<div>During this time my writing effectively paused, in spite of offers, as I was no longer able to complete lengthy compositions. I went from doing one or two episodes a week of my podcast to one episode every other month, and I had to turn down numerous appearances and opportunities.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/84633285_1746723331843737_r." width="100%" />
<div><em>(Above: Talking to with Katie to Roger Waters and Steven Donzinger, who gives up this gig? A sicko person, that's who!)</em>
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<div>Like many people with Long COVID, I was pushed to return to work after a portion of my leave claim was inaccurately denied by R.G. in October 2nd, 2023. I was nevertheless hopeful about resuming my teaching career. However, any recovery the months of rest brought quickly evaporated. I soon began having to regularly miss days of school and exhausted all of my sick leave for the year in a matter of months.
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<div>Eventually, my symptoms became even more severe than when I had to leave work initially. I was constantly fatigued and worried about my ability to safely fulfill my job duties. On March 19th, 2024, I requested accommodations from my school to help me teach, but when they saw my form, they immediately placed me on medical leave again, as I was clearly too sick to continue working.
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<div>My second attempt at working through my illness had a significant negative effect on my overall baseline health. At times, I have good days of some clarity and productivity, but eventually, the exertion brings on a crash that may take days or weeks to recover from.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/84633285_1746723938740988_r." width="100%" />
<div><em>(Above: What teaching with Long COVID actually feels like.)</em>
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<div>However, I'm still hopeful. I may not be able to return to teaching any time soon but I haven been able to work more on my show. Most importantly, there been some rapid developments in managing the symptoms of Long COVID and even some possible treatments.
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<div>I'm fundraising so that I can seek more advanced treatments to get back more of my quality of life and continue working.
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<div>Your generous donations will go directly towards:
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<li>Paying for medical costs including specialists, testing, and treatments no covered by insurance
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<li>Daily living expenses due to lost wages while recovering
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<div>Every bit of support helps, my family and I are eternally grateful for any support. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this campaign.
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<div>Here's a recent episode of my show where I talk with journalist Taylor Lorenz about Long COVID and share a few laughs. Segment starts at 25 minutes in:
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