Our dad, Robert Lee, was diagnosed with splenic marginal zone lymphoma and began his first chemotherapy treatments on February 24th and 25th. Just days later, everything changed.

After his second treatment, he developed difficulty breathing and was admitted to the hospital—where he has now been for over a month. Doctors removed 11 liters of fluid from his abdomen, but during his stay, he began developing these painful lesions on his face, in his mouth, nose, arms, hands, legs, and feet. At one point, his tongue and throat became so swollen that he had to be transferred to the ICU to monitor his airway closely.

Although he was briefly stabilized, the lesions continued to appear without a clear cause. Then on March 9th, he began experiencing changes in his mental status. By the next day, he was unable to communicate clearly with us—his words didn’t make sense, and he couldn’t answer simple questions. He was transferred back to the ICU, intubated, and underwent further testing.

A lumbar puncture revealed that he had developed HSV encephalitis, a serious brain infection. We also learned that an underlying autoimmune condition may be worsening his symptoms, though doctors are still working to determine exactly which one. He had to have his eyes sewn shut, to protect his vision from the lesions and scratches in his eyes.

Since then, he has been treated with high-dose steroids, antiviral medications, antibiotics, and around-the-clock critical care. When doctors evaluated his airway, they found ongoing swelling, necrosis, and bleeding lesions in his throat, making it unsafe to remove the breathing tube. A tracheostomy was necessary.

Since receiving the tracheostomy, our dad has made incredible progress. While he still has a long road ahead, he continues to fight every single day. That’s who he is—strong, determined, and never one to give up.

He is the glue that holds our family together. He’s the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back, even if it was his last one.

Our family has been praying fiercely for his recovery, and we are holding onto hope.

Because he has not been able to work since December 12, 2025, we have created this GoFundMe to help with the overwhelming medical and living expenses during this difficult time.

If you feel led to donate, share, or simply keep him in your prayers, we are deeply grateful. Every bit of support means more to us than words can express. ❤️