After Personal Tragedy, Korean American Doctor Takes on Fentanyl Crisis

A Korean-American doctor who lost her son to fentanyl is in the news for developing a drug test kit.

The online fundraising site GoFundMe recently posted the story of Jeanie Chung, a doctor in Denver, Colorado.

Chung said on her GoFundMe page that “TaeSun was the double bright light that brought laughter and joy to all those who basked in his warmth. Shockingly, fentanyl crushed this radiance in one swoop, vanquishing it from all our lives forever. Tragically, these sad stories continue to plague our society.”

Chung, a dermatologist, was motivated by her son’s death to work with fellow doctors to develop a fentanyl test kit. They named the device “Taesun” after her son, Jackson TaeSun Leddon (pictured).

Taesun was 19 years old when he lost his life to fentanyl in 2020.

TaeSun, who loved to play rugby, had been a student at the University of Kentucky and was set to transfer to the University of Colorado to be close to family.

Chung said, “He had exciting plans to return to his loving friends and family the next day from college. Unbeknownst to him, the substance he trustingly received contained enough fentanyl to kill a horse. No taste, no smell, or any other indication that the substance would abruptly end his life and take him away from all those he dearly loved.”

Read the rest at The Korea Daily