Hi, my name is Justin and my friend Sam was diagnosed with Tuberculosis on Tuesday, February 7th, 2023. He is in good spirits but needs our help to get through this difficult time.

Samuel Chung is 23 years old and one of my closest friends. He is sweet, funny, and the nicest person I know. He constantly puts others before himself even if he is not in a position to help others. Anyone who has known him personally can attest to this.

Prior to his diagnosis, Sam was experiencing chest pain and fatigue but did not want to go to urgent care because he felt his work and school responsibilities were his main priority. After pleading with him, he checked himself into urgent care to then be sent to the emergency room after finding fluid around his lungs. He was admitted to Irvine Hoag Hospital and put in isolation on February 3rd, 2023 because of potentially having TB. On Monday, February 6th, 2023, Sam went into surgery to remove 700 ml of fluid from his right lung. After 4 days of testing, OC public health gave their diagnosis on Tuesday, February 7th, 2023.

According to public health, Sam will have to stay in isolation indefinitely until his test deems him not contagious. Public Health said the timeline can range from 2 weeks to a couple of months depending on how his body reacts to the treatment.

Having his entire family overseas has been a very challenging situation both mentally and financially for him. Anything is appreciated and will go a long way for Sam. Visits are available from 6 am to 10 pm daily at Hoag Irvine.