RON LEE COVID-19 COMPLICATIONS

Hello!  For those of you who do not know me, my name is Ron Lee.  For those of you I have had the opportunity to cross paths with, I hope this message finds you and your family well!  The purpose of the fundraiser is to ask for your help and support for my upcoming surgery to close an open cavity in my mouth.  

Life has given me the fortune to meet a lot of wonderful people, who I have learned from, shared a laugh with, and just enjoyed those memorable moments in life.  I was fortunate to grow up during a good time, in a great area, with a lot of remarkable people.  A lot of those people would say I always tried to get a laugh from anyone I came across and I was always on the go. Prior to the world shutting down, my company allowed me to travel and meet thousands of people from different walks of life throughout the US, the Caribbean, and South America. Six great years of traveling, over 400,000 frequent flier miles while helping others pursue their academic dreams.  It was a perfect fit for me and those journeys also led me to my wife and my family…


On August 16, 2020, my life changed when my wife gave birth to my Mini-Lee, Jacob Kenji who was born in Medellin, Colombia. A few months after the world shut down, I found myself traveling to Colombia to meet my baby boy. I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks with my family and then I had to fly back to the US for work and to take care of my parents, who also depended on me.  I flew back to Medellin to visit my family for my birthday in March of 2021.  


During this visit, I ended up testing positive for COVID on April 1st.  I had a flight back into the United States on April 7th but due to the positive COVID test, I was unable to enter the United States.  On April 15th, during the third week of my COVID experience, my nose started to bleed constantly.  It bled constantly for 5 days and I noticed that the left side of my face started to swell and I could only open my jaw about a half-inch.  I took another COVID test on Saturday, April 17th, and luckily, I received a false negative, which allowed me to fly back to the United States on Tuesday, April 20th.  My face was not healing and the swelling was only getting worse.  On April 21st, I decided to admit myself to Anne Arundel Medical Center to check the swelling in my face which was now causing my left eye to shut.  


When initial test results came back, I was told I had flesh-eating bacteria and would need to get treatment at another hospital system.  I was sent to George Washington University Hospital.  I was diagnosed with Mucormycosis, the 'black fungus' that is affecting COVID patients around the world.  Only 50% of patients survive the condition and I was one of the lucky ones.  I was told I had a fungal infection and that it had caused necrosis of tissues, muscles, teeth, and bones in my face.  I had to undergo surgery to remove necrotic tissue from the left side of my face on April 23rd and was in a medically induced coma for 14 days.  What I thought was going to be an overnight stay ended up being a month-long hospital visit.  During my multiple surgeries, I had major organ failures and required dialysis, and also needed a tracheostomy.  Coming out of that hospital, I was using a feeding tube and needed to relearn how to walk and talk.  I have had to learn to live with part of my face missing and wearing a prosthetic for people to understand what I am saying. 


Many of you know me and I was never one to ask for help, even when I broke my leg and later on, my back.  This condition and the multiple surgeries have turned my life around and I humbly ask for your help in getting back on my feet.  The multiple surgeries and month-long hospital stay have left me with numerous medical bills which are now in collections.  The prosthetic that I wear to “sound” normal was out of pocket.  I was out of work for 6 months only getting a small portion of my pay.  Right in the middle of all of this, I had the opportunity to move my family to the US, which was a game-changer but also very costly.  My mother, due to her macular degeneration, fell and broke her foot last August and needed surgery to place 8 screws in her foot.  This happened while she was taking care of my step-father, who was immobile at the time.  We ended up losing my stepfather, Toshi, this past January.  I know some of you remember their sushi and their chicken teriyaki.  On top of all these challenges, I have a black mold infestation in my basement and garage of my home.  Not a good look when a black mold infection took half of your face and almost killed you…


A few weeks ago, I went and visited my surgeon and he pulled out my upper palate.  It was necrotic and affected by the fungal infection.  At $3000 a month, I could not afford my specialized anti-fungal medication, and losing my upper palate was a direct result.  We have determined that I need to go back and have a surgical procedure to remove any additional necrotic tissue and take muscle from my arm to cover the open cavity in my mouth.  I am scheduled to go in on April 4th and will be in the hospital for a week and out of work for another 4 to 5 weeks at a portion of my salary.  I also need a new prosthetic to accompany the new shape of my mouth.  


I humbly ask for your support to help me get back on my feet and navigate this upcoming surgery without falling deeper into debt.  Even if you can’t help me financially, would you share my story with others, that would mean the world to me. I hope I have brought a positive impact on your life, whether we shared a tidbit of knowledge, a good time, a great memory, or a laugh. Will you help impact mine?  I appreciate you! Thank you for taking the time to read my story.  I hope you have a wonderful day.