Honoring Jamie: A Final Goodbye for Mom

My mother’s name was Jamet Kato, though she was also known as Jamie. She had a long history of paranoid schizophrenia that began in her early 20s. In early 2010, she experienced an episode where she believed someone was trying to harm her, her children, and her nieces. This led to a tragic car accident that resulted in the loss of her oldest daughter, Tobiya Kato.

After that devastating loss, my mother’s mental illness became more chronic. In 2014, she was placed in a mental institution where she lived for the next decade.

Sadly, in 2024, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Due to her lack of insight into her condition, she was unable to make informed decisions about treatment. She was extremely afraid to undergo surgery, convinced she would be harmed or that she wouldn’t wake up if put to sleep. Because she refused treatment, her condition worsened, and she was eventually moved to a nursing home and placed on hospice care.

On Thursday, June 12th at 6:10 PM, the cancer ultimately took her life.

Unfortunately, there was never a burial policy in place. I am her oldest daughter and have just recently started a steady job earlier this year, while also navigating life postpartum. My youngest sister is 17 and currently unemployed.

This is why we are humbly asking for any donations—no matter the amount—to help cover the cost of her cremation through Benevolent and to have her ashes delivered to me. Any support would be deeply appreciated during this difficult time.