Bayside bridal: Brighton Savoy owner Des Lee stops dialysis
A much-loved wedding venue owner in Melbourne’s southeast has decided to stop having his life-saving dialysis treatment because of the increasing side effects of the treatment and the loss of morale caused by the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic.
South East
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A much-loved Bayside wedding venue and hotel owner has made the difficult yet “courageous” decision to stop his dialysis treatment.
Des Lee, 87, who has owned the Brighton Savoy with his wife Maya for the past 53 years, has decided to stop treatment, due to the increasing side effects of dialysis and loss of morale, which has been caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
His son, Michael Lee, who manages the venue with his sister Jennifer, said the pandemic was of one of the key reasons his father decided to stop treatment.
“My father made a comment a week ago saying this whole year he has only been into the hotel twice and that’s a combination of not feeling well and being in isolation,” Mr Lee said.
“His prime driver of his life has been taken away, which has been coming into the hotel everyday for 53 years,” he said.
“The whole lack of purpose and lockdown has contributed to him coming to this decision in conjunction with the lack of energy, mobility and strength that he’s lost.”
Mr Lee said the family had offered their father its unwavering love and support.
“He’s decided to make a very courageous and strong decision and my father has always been someone to always control his destiny,” he said.
“He survived Nazi Germany including staying in Theresienstadt Concentration Camp and the Russian invasion into Hungary.”
He said his father, who had then escaped Hungrary to Austria and migrated to Australia in 1956, has always been passionate about serving the community.
“His family were butchers and he started work in meat works, he worked as a chef and one day he applied for a job at the Brighton Savoy and he was rejected because his English wasn’t good enough.
“And he said ‘one day I’m going to buy this joint’ and in 1967 he saw an ad saying it was for sale and he purchased it.”
Mr Lee said doctors advised the family his father had possibly only weeks to live.
“We’ve been advised it’s possibly weeks, It’s been a week now since he stopped treatment and he’s still doing OK but he’s very tired and quite weak.”
He said while the pandemic was a challenging time for the business and his family, they would get through it.
“We will be resilient through this, we have been in touch with all of our brides and they have been very understanding and supportive.
“There will be a time when we are all back on the dancefloor having champagne.”
Mr Lee said his father had touched the lives of so many in the community.
“We are devastated and heartbroken that due to the current crisis which is exacerbated by the Stage 4 lockdown in Melbourne, he cannot share this time with extended family, friends and colleagues in the manner he would wish.
“Dad has touched so many people’s lives and we are so grateful for all the messages of support we’ve received.”
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