Meet Some of Our Grant Recipients

Lee Popa

I am the crew guy, not the superstar. I am the sound man – that guy whose name you may not remember. I was blessed for over 30 years to mix the sound for music in countless cities and countless countries. I’ve had the privilege to share that music with the best musicians in the world. The crews I have worked with are my family. Then, all of a sudden I got sick. I was dying. My liver failed because of an auto immune disease. It hit hard and moved fast – WOW! Just imagine the thought of being penniless and homeless and hopeless and unable to help yourself. Your medical condition is completely out of your control and it is all happening within days. You can understand the emotions I felt. Thankfully a live donor, who volunteered half of his liver, and the doctors and nurses at USCUH were able to save me.

I couldn’t believe that when I needed help Behind the Scenes was there and didn’t turn their back on me. I am the crew guy, not the superstar. Without Behind the Scenes I would not have made it – that’s a fact. I can never thank them enough for their help, and I can never thank them enough for the compassion they showed me in my true time of need. What a honor it is to be part of this community. It is a feeling that I can’t describe.

For everybody who contributes to Behind the Scenes, thank you. You helped save my life.