Aloha Dear Friends and Family,

Mahalo Ke Akua

As we prepared ourselves to ask for (kokua) help, it became clear that it would be a humbling experience. Perhaps a sign of weakness and that being self-reliant is the key to success. In actuality, the opposite is true: realizing we need help shows both humility and strength. With that thought, we come today with strengthened humility and ask for your help.

Our daughter Juliette has been battling Stage II Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a diagnosis that she received in October, 2022. She began treatment shortly thereafter. Lymphoma is a cancer which impacts the lymphatic system. It is not particularly common, but the medical team at Kaiser and Kapiolani Hospitals here in Hawaii are optimistic that she will make a full recovery.

She began her first of five cycles of Chemotherapy shortly after her diagnosis, initially spending 14 days admitted to the hospital. Juliette has just started her fifth round of chemotherapy. Her treatment involves a four week regimen of infusions for two weeks followed by two weeks of labs, tests and consultation for the next episode. Julie has one remaining cycle left in her Chemotherapy treatment, which will last an additional four weeks beginning January 10, 2023. A majority of her treatments are administered as an out-patient and we are so fortunate that she is able to spend much of her time in the comfort of our home. That being said, she has daily needs and various appointments, procedures, and tests that require family to be by her side 24/7. Her doctors plan to follow Chemotherapy treatment with 6 to 8 weeks of intense Radiation Therapy in February. We are told that the best treatment of this type (closest to Hawaii) is at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington and we are now beginning plans to raise the funds needed to enter this very important phase.

These are difficult times for us to share because no family is prepared to hear that a loved one has cancer. The overwhelming news comes with many disappointments as she is a striving junior in high school and was looking forward to a year full of activities and overall exciting goals that will now be placed on hold for an unknown time. It has not been a typical junior year but her school family, teachers and schoolmates have been incredibly supportive.

We are humbly asking for financial support to make sure Juliette has the best medical treatment possible during this next step in the process. This is the biggest challenge of her young life and we are praying that the community can support her journey to recovery. As you can imagine, this is an exhausting and difficult situation to experience at any point in life. Please donate what you can, any amount means more than you could know. All donations go directly towards Juliette's medical treatments, follow-ups, and especially traveling expenses. We also ask that you consider sharing this with your families and friends, and to keep Juliette in your prayers.

As most of you know, Aloha is the Hawaiian word for love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy, that is commonly used as a simple greeting but has a deeper cultural and spiritual significance. To all that consider giving, not only to our Julie but to the many that ask for kokua (help), we express with gratitude... a warm Mahalo (Thank you) for your Aloha. Malama (Take Care) for now.