I don't know Lee, but I know musicians, my husband is a musician, he still plays music when he can even though he's lucky to have a tenured teaching position and we have affordable health insurance. But that's not the case for a lot of artists, like Lee Popa.
As many of you know, 44,000 people every year die because they don't have health insurance. And Lee is one more who could become another statistic without our help.
Lee is on a waiting list for a new liver and is very sick. His eligibility to receive Medi-Cal insurance in California will be discontinued effective November 30, 2009. His wife Jolee would like to ask everyone to help Lee, so please donate through PAYPAL on the DONATE. Please give whatever you can to help with the astronomical medical expenses. Please read Lee’s letter on the next page which explains his illness. I am a friend of Lee’s and would be happy to answer any questions regarding this situation. Please use the CONTACT US page for that. I will forward all mails to Lee’s wife Jolee. I will post updates as well.
So as you can see, Lee is just one more American who although he works he is left without health insurance when he needs it the most, at a time when he is faced with a life threatening condition...
What is Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)?
Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a disease primarily of the bile ducts, both inside and outside the liver. The ducts of the gallbladder and pancreas may also be involved. The walls of the bile ducts become inflamed (cholangitis). The inflammation causes scarring and hardening (fibrosis) that narrows the bile ducts. Since bile cannot drain properly through the ducts, it accumulates in the liver causing damage to liver cells. Eventually, so much bile is accumulated, it seeps into the bloodstream. Finally, with long term cell damage, the liver develops cirrhosis (hardening or fibrosis) and it can no longer function properly.
How do I know Lee? I don't, but I do know one of Lee's friends via the social networking universe of Facebook. We've never met but we chat now and again and love each others posts. He's a cool guy and I saw him post this website so I had to click on the link. And even though I myself am still unemployed I had to give $10 and urge all the artists and musicians on my friends list to do the same.
Does it matter who Lee is? Really? Lee is a husband and a friend to many but I'm sure you are curious...
Lee has worked on hundreds of recording projects and mixed live sound over the years with many great artists. He is a musician himself.
Here are some of his credits...
* Record producer mixer-remixer-live/studio engineer
* Platinum Live Multi-Track recording and mixing engineer
* Head of audio production crews for National and World Tours
* Large scale ultra-complex audio management and mixing
* Music Producer-Mixer-Remixer-Engineer
...MINISTRY...TOOL...PRONG...LIVING COLOUR...
...NEDS ATOMIC DUSTBIN...GEGGY TAH...
...WHITE ZOMBIE...KMFDM...PIGFACE...
...KILLING JOKE...KORN...
...CHEAP TRICK...PHANTOM PLANET...
...GOOD CHARLOTTE...ZILCH...BUSH...
...VATICAN...DANZIG...PHUNK JUNKEEZ...
...BRAZILIAN GIRLS...MACY GRAY...
...pinksideofthemoon......QUEEN...
...24-7 SPYZ...
...THE DAMNED...GROUNDED...WAX...
...OUTKAST...TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS...
...EVIL MOTHERS...BAD BRAINS...RUN DMC...
...MICHAEL McDONALD...CYCLONE TEMPLE...
...SHAQ...
And lastly, I want you to hear from Lee, here is a letter he wrote for the website that I've taken all this information from...
My name is Lee Popa.
I have been a touring soundman for over 30 years. I Currently live in Los Angeles with my wife Jolee for the past ten years. I am A native of Chicago and singer / guitarist with the Slammin’ Watusis. I have Worked at many venues doing the F.O.H sound, e.g. Park West, the Metro, The Vic, the West End, and C.O.D. I am a long time touring partner with Ministry, Living Colour, Killing Joke, KMFDM, and hundreds more.
This is the most difficult letter I have had to write. I need help. I need your help.
I have been struck down with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, and verosices of the esophagus, which caused jaundice and cirrhosis, which caused the veins in the esophagus to become inflamed and breakdown, causing internal bleeding.
In June, 2008, while on tour with Jonathan Davis, I was rushed to the ER in Germany with Internal bleeding. I was told that in four to six more hours I would have gone into coma and died. The doctors thought that the adrenalin from mixing the live shows is what saved me. I spent ten days in the ICU and four more days recovering. I was given the o.k. to return to work at the end of June. I worked with Gnarls Barkley for four weeks, and ended up in the hospital for another four weeks. I have had to have an Endoscopy every two to three weeks ever since. I have had seventeen such procedures. I am now Waiting on the list for a liver transplant. I am in desperate need of your financial help. I have used every penny just to survive. I had hoped to return to work, but that has been impossible.
My hospital bills are so astronomical that I will never be able to pay them. I have had no income since September of 2008 and no work for many months prior to that. I have been denied every claim for assistance and am in appeals with all government agencies.
Everyone I speak to says that it just takes time and not to worry. I am afraid that I don’t have the time. I am scared beyond belief, I am sorry to say. I expect a few more months or more before I can see any help.
Any thing that you can do to help Jolee and me would be fantastic.
Lee Popa
So, I'm asking for people here at Daily Kos who are artists and musicians who have the means to pony up $10 or more for Lee Popa. You can donate via Paypal or you can email me at Ellinorianne@hotmail.com and I can send you the address to send checks.
Thanks for listening, I know way too many people who are one health issue, one hospital visit away from bankruptcy and so do you. And we know at least one person here at Daily Kos who are struggling with ongoing health issues who can't afford proper care. I can't help everyone but I can try to help one person at a time. Today, I want to help Lee. Can you help me do this?