A Tale of Three Active Stanford Hospital Accounts
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Susan and Les Inouye - A tale of three active Stanford Medical Center accounts
The Inouye family has been through a lot of health nightmares over the last several years.
Tale number one
Les (Susan’s husband) was diagnosed with a rare mixed connective tissue disease a few years ago that almost killed him. He sees the only doctor on the west coast for his care who is at Stanford. Les frequently travels to Stanford to see multiple specialists and he will have to have monthly IVIG infusions for years to come .
Tale number two
Ellen (Susan’s daughter) was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) approx. 2 years ago. EDS is a very rare, debilitating disease that weakens all of the connective tissue in your body (e.g., tendons, ligaments, joints, blood vessels, internal organs), causes pain throughout the body, makes it difficult to eat, sleep, and affects the person’s ability to use their hands, arms, and legs. Most doctors have never heard of EDS. Ellen has seen a myriad of specialists at California’s premier hospitals, but there isn’t a single doctor who specializes in EDS in CA. They’re flying to Maryland at the end of October so Ellen can see a doctor who specializes in treating EDS patients. They’re praying for help for Ellen.
Tale number three
Susan was just diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. It was shocking news as Susan has always done her annual checkups without any issues. Besides the tumor, at least one lymph node has cancer. She is currently seeing doctors at Stanford to determine the best course of treatment for her.
A tale of accounts 1-3
Needless to say, a lot of medical and travel expenses have occurred for the Inouye family over the years. These expenses will continue into the unforeseen future. As you know, medical insurance doesn’t cover everything. Susan’s family now has three active accounts at Stanford. (It boggles my mind as I type this.) Any money raised will go to Susan’s family to cover any extra travel expenses and medical bills they have that are not covered by insurance.
A tale of a son
We don’t want to forget Susan’s son Nolan. Nolan is a senior in high school now, but has had to step it up all these years to help his family with daily tasks. Nolan is a sensitive, loving kiddo who has had to endure a lot since he was in elementary school. Nolan is planning to go to college and is being recruited to play baseball. This has been a very tough time for Nolan as well.
A tale of friendship
How does someone describe a friendship that started in the first grade? Susan is one of those people that is always smiling and willing to jump in and help. We have shared so many things throughout the years… laughter, riding bikes around the neighborhoods, idle chit-chat, (that only friends know how to have) tears, making it through school, (elementary, HS, and FSU), and most of all our friendship. We are the type of friends who might not talk for a while, but are able to pick right back up as if we just talked the day before. We are life-long friends. I was honored to be part of Susan and Les’ wedding. I am honored to be a part of their life.
Susan and Les are not people that ask for anything. They never have been. This is a time when friends step-up to help.
"Which are you?" she asked. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Love you my friends,
Eva (we’ve got this)
The Inouye family has been through a lot of health nightmares over the last several years.
Tale number one
Les (Susan’s husband) was diagnosed with a rare mixed connective tissue disease a few years ago that almost killed him. He sees the only doctor on the west coast for his care who is at Stanford. Les frequently travels to Stanford to see multiple specialists and he will have to have monthly IVIG infusions for years to come .
Tale number two
Ellen (Susan’s daughter) was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) approx. 2 years ago. EDS is a very rare, debilitating disease that weakens all of the connective tissue in your body (e.g., tendons, ligaments, joints, blood vessels, internal organs), causes pain throughout the body, makes it difficult to eat, sleep, and affects the person’s ability to use their hands, arms, and legs. Most doctors have never heard of EDS. Ellen has seen a myriad of specialists at California’s premier hospitals, but there isn’t a single doctor who specializes in EDS in CA. They’re flying to Maryland at the end of October so Ellen can see a doctor who specializes in treating EDS patients. They’re praying for help for Ellen.
Tale number three
Susan was just diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. It was shocking news as Susan has always done her annual checkups without any issues. Besides the tumor, at least one lymph node has cancer. She is currently seeing doctors at Stanford to determine the best course of treatment for her.
A tale of accounts 1-3
Needless to say, a lot of medical and travel expenses have occurred for the Inouye family over the years. These expenses will continue into the unforeseen future. As you know, medical insurance doesn’t cover everything. Susan’s family now has three active accounts at Stanford. (It boggles my mind as I type this.) Any money raised will go to Susan’s family to cover any extra travel expenses and medical bills they have that are not covered by insurance.
A tale of a son
We don’t want to forget Susan’s son Nolan. Nolan is a senior in high school now, but has had to step it up all these years to help his family with daily tasks. Nolan is a sensitive, loving kiddo who has had to endure a lot since he was in elementary school. Nolan is planning to go to college and is being recruited to play baseball. This has been a very tough time for Nolan as well.
A tale of friendship
How does someone describe a friendship that started in the first grade? Susan is one of those people that is always smiling and willing to jump in and help. We have shared so many things throughout the years… laughter, riding bikes around the neighborhoods, idle chit-chat, (that only friends know how to have) tears, making it through school, (elementary, HS, and FSU), and most of all our friendship. We are the type of friends who might not talk for a while, but are able to pick right back up as if we just talked the day before. We are life-long friends. I was honored to be part of Susan and Les’ wedding. I am honored to be a part of their life.
Susan and Les are not people that ask for anything. They never have been. This is a time when friends step-up to help.
"Which are you?" she asked. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Love you my friends,
Eva (we’ve got this)
Organizer
Eva Rasmussen
Organizer
Visalia, CA