The Power of Hope: Jason Lee’s Ongoing Search for a Kidney Donor

Even if you don’t know about Jason Lee, you probably know or have been a client of his. Since 1999 Lee has owned and operated the very successful Jason’s Computer Services on Centreville Road in Easton. But if you do know Lee then you know that this 44-year-old is facing a critical health challenge that has put his life on pause. Perhaps ‘pause’ would be too harsh of a word, because despite everything he is going through, he still manages to successfully run his business and his life. But, Lee is desperately in need of a kidney and so for now he’s dependent on dialysis to keep him alive. His story is one of remarkable resilience and hope in the face of a complex medical system. 

To understand this resilience, you have to go back to 1987, when Lee, just seven years old, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aggressive treatments involved radiation and chemotherapy. “The drugs they used back then are banned now,” Lee said. “It’s a miracle I’m even here, alive. Of all the six kids that were around me at the hospital, my parents had to watch every child die. Except for their own.” Lee’s memories of that period are hazy, compartmentalized in his mind, surfacing only through photographs. “It feels like another person went through those challenges,” he says, describing what he calls his ‘out-of-body experience.’

Nevertheless, this early brush with mortality shaped Lee’s outlook on life and gave him the fortitude to say: “Let’s go world. Whatcha got for me today?” This attitude became important when in his early 30s Lee began experiencing symptoms of kidney disease. 

Initially dismissive, he ignored the warning signs. “I was young and stubborn, thinking I knew better,” he said. Routine blood tests revealed declining kidney function, a condition he reluctantly acknowledged only after persistent urging from his doctors. The diagnosis: his kidneys were failing, a delayed consequence of the aggressive treatments that saved his life decades earlier. 

Now, Lee finds himself in need of a kidney transplant in a medical system process that has proven to be frustratingly complex. “It’s like a dark secret society. No one tells you anything about where you are on the list. From the moment I’ve started this process to now, which will be two years in October, I have no idea where I am on the schedule, what my status is, or even if I’m listed or not at any given moment.” It doesn’t help that he’s also dealing with a very rare blood type—O negative.

So while he waits for a kidney donor, Lee has been on the grueling process of dialysis. “Dialysis is a lifeline, but it’s not a solution,” he said. The process, which involves filtering his blood through a machine, is physically and emotionally draining. Jason goes for treatment twice a week. “If conditions worsen, I might have to go more often,” he added.

It doesn’t help that the system does not seem to be working with him. He said he suddenly became inactive on the National Kidney Registry at the same time that a donor became available and willed a kidney to him. “There seems to be a disconnect. Keeping people on dialysis, keeps them alive, right? But each dialysis session costs between $18,000-$21,000 and the reality is, it’s a business, a revenue stream. What’s the point in getting me a kidney, when they can make all that money from keeping me sick?” Five days after being removed from the donor list, Lee became eligible again. He’s now considering seeking treatment outside of the University of Maryland system, exploring options that might better align with his health needs and expedite the transplant process.

As dialysis takes a physical toll, the waiting process is emotionally taxing. “It’s exhausting,” he says. Yet, despite his health challenges, Lee continues to run and grow a thriving business that services approximately three thousand people weekly. He is proud to provide attention and top-notch service which has earned him a loyal customer base. “I love what I do, and I want to keep doing it,” he said.  But running a business while managing a serious health condition is no small feat. Jason’s daily routine requires balancing his business responsibilities with his medical treatments. “It’s challenging, but my work keeps me grounded,” he said. His business provides financial stability and a sense of purpose and normalcy amidst the ongoing health crisis.

Seeing so many people every day, presents yet another challenge, a reminder that he is no closer to a kidney today than he was a couple of years ago. “People come in or they call asking how I am, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Lee’s resilience is evident in his approach to his condition and the medical system. Perhaps that’s why he’s still alive, he contemplates. “Maybe I’m here to challenge the system, things seem to have gone in the wrong direction.” Yet, despite it all, Lee remains hopeful and when asked if he thinks he will eventually get a kidney, he says. “I think I will. Why? Because I’m tenacious and I’ll make a big enough scene.”

For those considering becoming kidney donors, Lee emphasizes the impact they could have. “This gift goes both ways. Yes, it gives someone a second lease on life. But speaking from experience, knowing you’ve forever impacted another human’s journey in such a profound way – that’s an amazing feeling too.”

As he continues his search for a donor, Lee remains determined. “I’ve got so much more living to do. My perfect donor match is out there somewhere. I know they’ll find me when the time is right.”