Lee Vogler reached a milestone in his recovery on Monday, undergoing what his family hopes will be his final skin graft surgery, according to a statement from his wife, Blair Vogler.
The Danville City Council member has been hospitalized since July 30, when he was attacked and set on fire at his workplace. He was airlifted to the burn unit at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill immediately after the attack and is being treated for second- and third-degree burns to more than half of his body.
“We are pleased to share that Lee had what we are hoping will be his last skin graft surgery this morning,” Blair Vogler wrote. “The procedure went well, and we are hopeful that this will mark a significant step toward his full recovery.”
She also asked for prayers as Vogler “navigates the often-grueling path” of occupational and physical therapy in the future.
“The process is slow, challenging and sometimes frustrating, but Lee is determined, and we have faith that he will keep pushing forward,” she wrote.
The statement was posted on Monday on a GoFundMe page that is raising money for Vogler’s medical bills, which will include a monthslong hospital stay, long-term recovery and rehabilitation, travel and lodging costs for his family and loss of household income.
An initial $100,000 goal was exceeded less than a week after the page was created on Aug. 1, and the goal amount has been increased to $250,000. As of Tuesday, almost $159,000 has been raised.
The Vogler family is also selling T-shirts to raise money for medical costs, featuring Vogler’s affectionate nickname for Danville — “the comeback city” — and for himself — “the comeback kid.”
T-shirt orders can be placed by contacting Vogler’s father, Jack Vogler, on Facebook.
Vogler, 38, was at his workplace on July 30 when a man identified as Shotsie Buck-Hayes, 29, entered the office, doused him with gasoline and lit him on fire, police said.
Buck-Hayes was taken into custody and charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding later that day.
A criminal complaint filed in Danville General District Court says that Buck-Hayes “during an interview admitted that he had dumped gasoline on Vogler” and that “his intention was to kill Vogler.”
Police have said that Vogler and Buck-Hayes knew each other and that the attack stemmed from a personal matter and not from Vogler’s work with the city.
This update is the first on the GoFundMe page in over a month. The last update, posted Aug. 19, said that Vogler had received a tracheostomy, allowing him to be off a ventilator for most of the day and begin to communicate. The update also said that he was able to stand with the help of physical therapists.
Blair Vogler, in the most recent update, also shared her gratitude for the continued support of the community. “We remain overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of care from all of you,” she wrote.
Vogler is expected to be in the hospital until at least the end of the year.
Buck-Hayes is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing — when a judge will determine whether there’s enough evidence to send the case to a grand jury — on Tuesday.