Community supports Elkhart veteran after being diagnosed with rare liver disease

Dozens of people came out Saturday night to support an Elkhart veteran and first responder fighting a rare liver disease.

Friends put on a hog roast to help raise some funds to afford a liver transplant for JT Lee, which he badly needs. And within just one hour over 200 people showed up to lend their support.

"it's overwhelming," Lee said. I've never been in the position where I've been the one on this side. I've always been the one helping people."

For years, Lee risked his life with the marines, the fire department and paramedics, saving the lives of the people in his community and beyond.

"He was one of my marines," Retired United States Marine Corps 1st Sergeant Samuel Alemeda said. "Just one thing after another just pushing him back, but he keeps pushing forward."

"When I went to EMT school JT was my preceptor," Co-coordinator Christina Heise said. "He taught me how to save a life."

But this time they want to help save his life. JT is fighting a rare illness... Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, or PSC.

Only about one in 5,000 people end up contracting the genetic disease.

"He's very giving and he has, like, one of the biggest hearts I know," Heise said. "So that's why I just felt like it was my turn to step up and help him."

"JT was proud," Alemeda said. "He wouldn't tell people, but we took it upon ourselves to help him."

Over 200 people showed up Saturday night to eat food, have fun, and help a man who's helped their community all these years by bringing in several thousand dollars toward his liver transplant.

"it's very emotional," Lee said. "I mean, a lot of these people, I don't know a lot of these people, but they're taking their time out for me. It just means a lot.

After gaining the support and getting one step closer to the surgery, he still has many questions and worries.

" I do have my concerns," Lee said. "I'm a single dad, so I have my kids that I worry about the most, but as for me, I figure I'll pull through it. I've been through worse and I trust the doctors nowadays. They're great and they know what they're doing."

Even with the worries, he's confident that after all he's been through he can keep a positive outlook for the future.

"You have to," Lee said. "You can't let this stuff drag you in the muck, so stay positive and be happy and live your life to the fullest."

If you'd like to help JT, there's going to be a donation box at the Elkhart DAV. If you can't make it down, his mom set up a GoFundMe page which you can find here- https://www.gofundme.com/disabledvetinneed9