Jaydene (Tanaka) Viernes Needs Your Support

Aloha,

As long-time friends and classmates, we are asking for your help and support for our dear friend Jaydene (Tanaka) Viernes who is fighting to recover from a brain aneurysm that required intensive brain surgery in December 2022. After over a month in Queen’s ICU, which included a bout of pneumonia and other complications leading to an insertion of a feeding tube, Jay was transferred to the Rehab Hospital in January to begin an extensive regiment of physical, occupational and speech therapy to rebuild her strength, physical mobility, and swallowing abilities.

Unfortunately, Jay was rushed back to Queen’s with more complications including catching COVID. Throughout all these weeks, Jay’s husband Vernon has been by her side taking time off from work while also caring for his 80+ year-old parents.

Jay had to undergo a second brain surgery and was in Queen’s ICU again. She was finally transferred to another facility to restart her rehab. Persevering through these medical challenges and setbacks, Jay has remained alert, responsive and appreciative of all the love and support that have been pouring in from her family and friends.

Jaydene is fighting back with great courage and strength, but she faces a long and arduous road to recovery. Her Sick Leave pay has been exhausted. Vernon has taken extensive time off from work, some unpaid.

We ask for your positive thoughts and prayers in supporting Jay and Vernon during this difficult time. We also ask that you consider donating to their GoFundMe account. Funds will be used to cover their daily household expenses (mortgage, utilities, etc.) and mounting medical bills from the multiple brain surgeries, ICU care, and rehabilitation therapies. Jay is likely to face more rehab therapies and will require in-home assistance when she eventually returns home. These medical and in-home care expenses will add up. Can you please help?

Mahalo for your loving support and prayer from Jay’s Class of ’78 Ohana: Jamie (Arakawa) Apuna, Dustin Ebesu, Marty (Shima) Mullen, Richard Nonaka, Jayne (Saito) Takahama, Audrey Suga-Nakagawa, and Kori (Yukitomo) Lau.