Taka's Road to Recovery
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This Go Fund Me page is about my dear sister, Taka Takayanagi. I have always admired my sister for her dedication and commitment to others...there’s no bigger heart or more compassionate soul than that of my sister. Taka’s career has been about helping others heal and achieve health, which she’s done through her work as a reregistered nurse; but, her passion and her truest contribution is through her work in traditional Chinese acupuncture. She’s phenomenal! Through the 10 plus years her acupuncture clinic has been in business, she’s built a loyal following of patients who have experienced the power of her treatments and the deep care and compassion she has shown them.
Ten months ago in November 2015, Taka received the terrible news that she had Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma - the most advanced stage and aggressive type of this rare bone cancer. Her doctors initial plan was to eradicate the cancer through chemo treatments for 12 weeks, followed by a stem cell transplant to get her cancer into remission. But after four months of treatment, the chemo was not working and left her incredibly depleted and weak - her cancer had significantly progressed. She was nowhere close to being ready for the stem cell transplant and was devastated.
Her doctor acted quickly and changed her chemo treatment, which thankfully, did the job intended and reduced the cancer to the point that she was eligible to get the stem cell treatment. As she’s been able, she’s continued to see a few patients but can’t stand for long periods of time due to significant pain in her back from the tumor that impacted one of her vertebrae. She works for a few minutes but then has to lie down to relieve her back pain. Despite her own health issues, she’s continued to remain committed to her patients’ care...her courage throughout this process has been inspirational and heartbreaking.
On August 8th, Taka was admitted to the University of Chicago Hospital to receive the final required super-heavy dose of chemo before her stem cell transplant. After being discharged from the hospital at the end of August, she will then require full time care for several months until her body starts functioning properly again. Due to the impact of the stem cell treatment, her immune system and her body’s ability to fight infection is seriously compromised. She will not be able to work for 6 months to one year! In addition, doctors anticipate that she may require more chemo even after the stem cell transplant for another 2 years due to the aggressiveness of her cancer. She’s already tapping into her savings to manage mounting costs, but it’s a matter of time she will use them. She’s made every effort to reduce expenses as much as possible and to apply for any and all financial assistance available to her. She will need financial assistance to keep getting her treatment and to manage basic expenses over the next year to two years.
Besides being one of the most caring and loving people I know, Taka is also incredibly humble and would not ask for this type of help. So, I’m asking on her behalf (with her permission) to help ease the financial burden she’s experiencing and to help give her a little peace of mind that any financial support might bring. She has helped countless people heal for more than two decades as a phenomenal acupuncturist and nurse. Now, it’s her turn to get help and heal. Any financial contribution you can make will go a long way, and I thank you dearly for your help. If you are not in a position to assist, I completely understand; prayers for my beautiful sister would also be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please do reach out to me directly. My deepest thanks to you for taking the time to read about my sister and her story. For more of Taka's story, please go to her Caring Bridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/takatakayanagi
Ten months ago in November 2015, Taka received the terrible news that she had Stage 3 Multiple Myeloma - the most advanced stage and aggressive type of this rare bone cancer. Her doctors initial plan was to eradicate the cancer through chemo treatments for 12 weeks, followed by a stem cell transplant to get her cancer into remission. But after four months of treatment, the chemo was not working and left her incredibly depleted and weak - her cancer had significantly progressed. She was nowhere close to being ready for the stem cell transplant and was devastated.
Her doctor acted quickly and changed her chemo treatment, which thankfully, did the job intended and reduced the cancer to the point that she was eligible to get the stem cell treatment. As she’s been able, she’s continued to see a few patients but can’t stand for long periods of time due to significant pain in her back from the tumor that impacted one of her vertebrae. She works for a few minutes but then has to lie down to relieve her back pain. Despite her own health issues, she’s continued to remain committed to her patients’ care...her courage throughout this process has been inspirational and heartbreaking.
On August 8th, Taka was admitted to the University of Chicago Hospital to receive the final required super-heavy dose of chemo before her stem cell transplant. After being discharged from the hospital at the end of August, she will then require full time care for several months until her body starts functioning properly again. Due to the impact of the stem cell treatment, her immune system and her body’s ability to fight infection is seriously compromised. She will not be able to work for 6 months to one year! In addition, doctors anticipate that she may require more chemo even after the stem cell transplant for another 2 years due to the aggressiveness of her cancer. She’s already tapping into her savings to manage mounting costs, but it’s a matter of time she will use them. She’s made every effort to reduce expenses as much as possible and to apply for any and all financial assistance available to her. She will need financial assistance to keep getting her treatment and to manage basic expenses over the next year to two years.
Besides being one of the most caring and loving people I know, Taka is also incredibly humble and would not ask for this type of help. So, I’m asking on her behalf (with her permission) to help ease the financial burden she’s experiencing and to help give her a little peace of mind that any financial support might bring. She has helped countless people heal for more than two decades as a phenomenal acupuncturist and nurse. Now, it’s her turn to get help and heal. Any financial contribution you can make will go a long way, and I thank you dearly for your help. If you are not in a position to assist, I completely understand; prayers for my beautiful sister would also be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please do reach out to me directly. My deepest thanks to you for taking the time to read about my sister and her story. For more of Taka's story, please go to her Caring Bridge site: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/takatakayanagi
Organizer
Yuko Prendergast
Organizer
Torrance, CA
