A Mother's Tears
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Caroline Agulto and I am here to share my sister Leona Masga Nakazato's story, "A Mother's Tears"
My sister Leona is a wife, a mother of 6 children, and a grandmother of 7 grandchildren. For many years, Leona has endured such a hard life trying to raise 6 kids with changing jobs, being on food stamps while unemployed, losing her home and moving into a small 1-bedroom house, living with no reliable transportation, at one point lived with no electricity, and her husband Takehide, goes fishing to provide for the family. Despite all the hardships that they had to face, not once did she ever lose faith in God, she did her very best to provide her children their basic needs, she managed to put a smile on their faces, she supported their education, and kept her family together. My sister is one of the most selfless individuals that I know, she tends to put her needs last and always wanted to make people laugh. No matter what life had in store for her, it is her prayers and love for her family that kept her strong and continue on.
At the age of 50, Leona along with her husband Takehide stood proudly to see all 6 of their children graduate from high school. Three out of six of their children are college graduates; 1 graduated with her BS in Education, 1 with her Associates in Liberal Arts, and 1 with his Associates in Natural Resource Management. Their youngest daughter is working as a teacher aide while a full-time college student working on her degree, their eldest son moved back home from the mainland to find work and help the family, and their one daughter is a stay-at-home mom raising her 4 children.
Leona and Takehide were beginning to feel content knowing that their kids are finally grown and living a life that they had envisioned for them. They are humble hardworking individuals, they continue to practice their faith, and that they share the strong family values. However, life had an unexpected turn of events.
It all started in November 2015 when their 2nd eldest Koniko at the age of 24 was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure. This diagnosis requires her to go into hemodialysis treatment 3 times a week. This was a life changing event for everyone as Koniko was a healthy Special Education teacher and an Army Reservist at the time. Leona did what she had to do as a mother; show no weakness. She comforted her daughter with words of encouragement, endless hugs, prayers, and love. As a mother, she had to hold it together for her daughter and the rest of her family. It was only times when she was alone or away from her children that she shed her tears. Her tears that helped her release her emotions and pain; and then she would wipe them away and continue on her fight and her role as a mother. Today, Koniko has only 2 choices; one is hemodialysis treatment for the rest of her life or a kidney transplant. With this said, Leona and Takehide desperately seek a kidney transplant for their daughter so that she may live a life that she once knew because, with her current condition, she is very limited. And because of her health condition she had no other choice but to accept being released from being in the Army Reserve and away from work for quite some time.
It has been almost 3 years since the diagnosis of Leona's daughter and she finally started to see brighter days with Koniko being back to work as a special education teacher and doing other things that made her happy. Additionally, the family was fundraising for Koniko's kidney transplant.
As the family was preparing for the bittersweet moment of my sister Leona and Koniko to leave early June to Washington State to start the process for a kidney transplant, the unexpected happened. Raymond, age 22 was brought to the hospital because he has not been feeling well for quite some time. With the numerous times of Raymond being seen at our only hospital, he was set for a surgery for gallstones.
As Raymond was being prepared for surgery, an update from Raymond's test results brought heartbreaking news to his parents. Raymond had to be rushed to the neighboring island of Guam for medical attention that he urgently needed because the CT scan revealed he has an enlarged heart. Raymond's heart was functioning at 20% and needed to be flown that same day. At this point, my sister Leona was not herself, for a moment it seemed as if she was floating in the air trying her hardest to digest what was happening. She had no other choice but to put her brave face on and comfort her son with all the love, words of encouragement, and faith. Leona for a moment seemed lost, so her daughters had to pack her some clothes and prepare her travel documents. Once again, as my sister had a little time for herself, she had shed her tears to release her pain, anger, weakness, and heartbreak. Despite what she is going through, she wiped her tears away and prayed.
Raymond at the tender age of 22 and a recent college graduate was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) caused by Viral Myocarditis (inflammation or damaged heart muscles). His heart function went from 20% to 17% and now 15%. And because of his heart condition, his liver is now being affected due to the lack of blood flow and oxygen.
Raymond who passionately cares for the environment, culture, and our people, he was excited to get into the environmental field right after graduation. Sadly, his dreams were robbed due to his debilitating health condition.
At this point, Leona and Takehide’s daughter aged 27 is in need of a kidney transplant and a son aged 22 who is in critical need of a heart transplant.
With all that is said, we would like to thank you for taking the time to read about my sister Leona’s story, “A Mother’s Tears” and at this point there are great chances that you share the pain that this has brought us, the unfortunate turn of events of our loved ones.
We, the family are in desperate need to raise the required funds to get Raymond’s immediate transport to the US mainland to get the medical attention he needs and to begin the process of a heart transplant. Time is against us and we are unable to afford the delay of his transportation as his health continues to debilitate with each passing day. Additionally, we hope to get Koniko her kidney transplant for a better quality of life. Any amount that you are able to donate makes a great difference to us, it is a step closer to give Raymond a fighting chance for life and Koniko a better quality of life. We are forever grateful in our hearts and will keep you all in our prayers as well. God Bless.
My sister Leona is a wife, a mother of 6 children, and a grandmother of 7 grandchildren. For many years, Leona has endured such a hard life trying to raise 6 kids with changing jobs, being on food stamps while unemployed, losing her home and moving into a small 1-bedroom house, living with no reliable transportation, at one point lived with no electricity, and her husband Takehide, goes fishing to provide for the family. Despite all the hardships that they had to face, not once did she ever lose faith in God, she did her very best to provide her children their basic needs, she managed to put a smile on their faces, she supported their education, and kept her family together. My sister is one of the most selfless individuals that I know, she tends to put her needs last and always wanted to make people laugh. No matter what life had in store for her, it is her prayers and love for her family that kept her strong and continue on.
At the age of 50, Leona along with her husband Takehide stood proudly to see all 6 of their children graduate from high school. Three out of six of their children are college graduates; 1 graduated with her BS in Education, 1 with her Associates in Liberal Arts, and 1 with his Associates in Natural Resource Management. Their youngest daughter is working as a teacher aide while a full-time college student working on her degree, their eldest son moved back home from the mainland to find work and help the family, and their one daughter is a stay-at-home mom raising her 4 children.
Leona and Takehide were beginning to feel content knowing that their kids are finally grown and living a life that they had envisioned for them. They are humble hardworking individuals, they continue to practice their faith, and that they share the strong family values. However, life had an unexpected turn of events.
It all started in November 2015 when their 2nd eldest Koniko at the age of 24 was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Failure. This diagnosis requires her to go into hemodialysis treatment 3 times a week. This was a life changing event for everyone as Koniko was a healthy Special Education teacher and an Army Reservist at the time. Leona did what she had to do as a mother; show no weakness. She comforted her daughter with words of encouragement, endless hugs, prayers, and love. As a mother, she had to hold it together for her daughter and the rest of her family. It was only times when she was alone or away from her children that she shed her tears. Her tears that helped her release her emotions and pain; and then she would wipe them away and continue on her fight and her role as a mother. Today, Koniko has only 2 choices; one is hemodialysis treatment for the rest of her life or a kidney transplant. With this said, Leona and Takehide desperately seek a kidney transplant for their daughter so that she may live a life that she once knew because, with her current condition, she is very limited. And because of her health condition she had no other choice but to accept being released from being in the Army Reserve and away from work for quite some time.
It has been almost 3 years since the diagnosis of Leona's daughter and she finally started to see brighter days with Koniko being back to work as a special education teacher and doing other things that made her happy. Additionally, the family was fundraising for Koniko's kidney transplant.
As the family was preparing for the bittersweet moment of my sister Leona and Koniko to leave early June to Washington State to start the process for a kidney transplant, the unexpected happened. Raymond, age 22 was brought to the hospital because he has not been feeling well for quite some time. With the numerous times of Raymond being seen at our only hospital, he was set for a surgery for gallstones.
As Raymond was being prepared for surgery, an update from Raymond's test results brought heartbreaking news to his parents. Raymond had to be rushed to the neighboring island of Guam for medical attention that he urgently needed because the CT scan revealed he has an enlarged heart. Raymond's heart was functioning at 20% and needed to be flown that same day. At this point, my sister Leona was not herself, for a moment it seemed as if she was floating in the air trying her hardest to digest what was happening. She had no other choice but to put her brave face on and comfort her son with all the love, words of encouragement, and faith. Leona for a moment seemed lost, so her daughters had to pack her some clothes and prepare her travel documents. Once again, as my sister had a little time for herself, she had shed her tears to release her pain, anger, weakness, and heartbreak. Despite what she is going through, she wiped her tears away and prayed.
Raymond at the tender age of 22 and a recent college graduate was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) caused by Viral Myocarditis (inflammation or damaged heart muscles). His heart function went from 20% to 17% and now 15%. And because of his heart condition, his liver is now being affected due to the lack of blood flow and oxygen.
Raymond who passionately cares for the environment, culture, and our people, he was excited to get into the environmental field right after graduation. Sadly, his dreams were robbed due to his debilitating health condition.
At this point, Leona and Takehide’s daughter aged 27 is in need of a kidney transplant and a son aged 22 who is in critical need of a heart transplant.
With all that is said, we would like to thank you for taking the time to read about my sister Leona’s story, “A Mother’s Tears” and at this point there are great chances that you share the pain that this has brought us, the unfortunate turn of events of our loved ones.
We, the family are in desperate need to raise the required funds to get Raymond’s immediate transport to the US mainland to get the medical attention he needs and to begin the process of a heart transplant. Time is against us and we are unable to afford the delay of his transportation as his health continues to debilitate with each passing day. Additionally, we hope to get Koniko her kidney transplant for a better quality of life. Any amount that you are able to donate makes a great difference to us, it is a step closer to give Raymond a fighting chance for life and Koniko a better quality of life. We are forever grateful in our hearts and will keep you all in our prayers as well. God Bless.
Organizer and beneficiary
Carol Ine
Organizer
Saipan, MP
Tiffany Marie M. Santos
Beneficiary
