（日本語は下に記載してあります）

Please Help My Sister Fighting Cancer in France

My beloved sister, Ryoko has terminal cancer, stage 4. It was only discovered two months ago on July 16, 2020. Both of us are Japanese, but Ryoko has lived in Paris for 16 years and I live in Malaysia.
Her cancer began with breast cancer and has spread to the brain, eyes, bones, spine, pelvis, peritoneum, liver, lungs, dura mater, pancreas and kidneys. The cancer is inoperable, so her only option is for radiation therapy on the brain, eyes, and spine, which can become increasingly dangerous as the cancer progresses.

Here is Ryoko’s story.
In February 2020, Ryoko started feeling that something was wrong. Then, starting in March or April, she began to feel stiffness and back pain. This was probably a symptom of cancer metastases in the lungs and spine. At that time, she thought it might be Covid-19 because of those symptoms. Also at that time, France was under lockdown due to the spread of Covid-19. (Average number of infected people per day in France was 3000-4000) Therefore, hospital visits were restricted, and if there was suspicion of infection for those other than the elderly or sick, they were instructed to wait at home.

In May, France relaxed the restrictions, so she was allowed to take the PCR test, but it came back negative. With that, she then suspected another illness and consulted her primary physician. The initial diagnosis was a mental illness due to the spread of Covid-19 (psychosomatic illness). She was also prescribed a powerful painkiller, which helped her temporarily feel better.

In July, she went to another general practitioner and got a lung scan, breast cancer echocardiogram, and mammography exam because her lung pain had not gone away. Based on the lung scan results, she was asked to retake the PCR test and quarantine due to suspicion of possible Covid-19. The breast cancer tests were resulted as no malignant tumor. At that point, Ryoko suspected that it might be traveller’s thrombosis (economy class syndrome) and/or a pulmonary embolism rather than Covid-19. She urgently searched for a doctor who could give her the PCR test, and was able to find a general practitioner who was able to see her. The doctor reviewed her previous lung scan and breast cancer tests, and proceeded with another PCR test, blood tests, an abdominal echocardiogram, and a chest biopsy. On July 16, she was notified that she had cancer.

Ryoko has always been an active and healthy person. While in her 30s, without concern about her age, she took up ballet, practicing three times a week with a group of high school students. She also started her own business, opening an antique shop to help support her and her son. Ryoko is still in her early 40s. She had recently divorced, and rented a small room with her son as she was restarting her life.

 Following her cancer diagnosis, Ryoko visited France’s National Cancer Center (Curie Institute) and was hospitalized for 3 weeks. After that she returned home, living with her son, and working when she was able. However, she began to suffer increasing pain and blindness due to metastasis in her brain and eyes. Her condition continued to deteriorate to the point where even getting out of bed became difficult. She has also suffered significant weight loss, down to 30 kg (66 lbs), and is now receiving home health care services.

I am a single mother living in Malaysia since last year, working at a locally managed company. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, Malaysian residents are not allowed to enter France, and Malaysia has also banned entry from France. Because of this, I am unable to see my sister unless I were to quit my job and leave Malaysia permanently to move to and try to find work in France. I have repeatedly asked for assistance or advice from the embassies and consulates, but have gotten no response. If I could find a job in France, I would definitely go there, but my French is very limited, and I have a child to think about so I can’t pull up stakes without some sort of plan. 
I am still horribly torn between the decision to stay in Malaysia where I know I can provide for my child, but can only support my sister from a distance, and the decision to leave Malaysia behind to be with my sister and risk the welfare of my child.

Ryoko’s current situation is untenable. She is not even able to go shopping, so our parents and I are trying to support her and make sure she has necessary items. After Ryoko was committed to in-home care, our mother travelled to France to see her, concerned that it might be her last chance. Ryoko’s condition improved, but it is still difficult for her to care for herself, so our initial plan is for our mother to remain with her under a tourist visa, repeatedly exiting and entering France to maintain the visa. However, given the situation with Covid-19, there is always a question of whether she’ll be allowed to re-enter the country. Also, the travel and the stress of the situation is having ill effects on our mother’s health, so it’s unclear how long she would be able to continue.

WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP

Ryoko’s son is currently a junior high school student and has French nationality. He lives with her, and she is raising him. However, his father was given custody rights and has parental authority under French law. Ryoko wishes to remain in Paris to undergo treatment so she can live with her son. However, we have no family in Paris who would be able to support her, so she is fighting this battle on her own with just the help of some friends.

Medical expenses specifically related to her cancer treatment are free in France, but any personal support services she requires must be arranged independently because she became debilitated after she was discharged from the hospital. She has applied for assistance from the French social security system, but has not yet received a response, so it is unclear when and what kind of support she might receive. 

My sister has not given up her will to live, however, her condition is not good. I would like to hire a home health nurse or in-home care provider to assist her while she undergoes her treatment. It’s unclear how much it will cost for her to have that assistance and raise her son if she chooses to remain in France. I would also like to bring my sister back to Japan if she chose to return, or if she could no longer be with her son. The cost for the necessary special transport by air to return her to Japan would be expected to be around 63,000 euros.

Ryoko and I decided to try to organize a fundraising campaign for this because of the limited financial means available from myself and from our parents, who are living on their pension. I still don’t know if asking for help is the right thing to do, but am hopeful that you may understand our reasons for doing so, and I have faith that this will bring us closer to saving Ryoko, a beloved sister, daughter, and mother. 
We intend to pay as much of the costs as we can, but expect that we will need some help, so we are asking for your assistance. Every little bit helps, and anything you might be able to offer is greatly appreciated.

Thank you all so much.
Misa Y

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（日本語）

フランスで一人、ガンと闘っている 私の姉の為に、お力を貸していただけないでしょうか？

私達姉妹は日本人ですが、姉・涼子はフララス・パリに16年在住、私はマレーシア・クアラルンプール在住です。
2020年7月16日、姉は全身転移の末期ガン ステージ4と宣告されました。彼女のガンは乳がんから始まり、脳、目、骨、脊椎、骨盤、腹膜、肝臓、肺、腎臓、硬膜、膵臓に転移がみられます。残念ながら、姉は乳がん検査を受けていなかった為、その時初めて自身がガンであることを知りました。転移が広すぎる為、手術はできず、転移が進行すると危険である脳、目、脊椎の放射線治療を受けています。

宣告を受けるまでの経緯です。
2020年2月本人がなんとなく体調不良を感じるようになり、3〜4月頃息苦しさと背中の痛みを感じるようになりました。おそらく肺と脊椎へのガン転移からの症状だと思われます。コロナ症状と似ていた為、姉自身はコロナ感染を疑っていました。当時フランスでは新型コロナウイルスの蔓延（フランス国内：1日平均3000〜4000名の感染者数）の中、ロックダウンとなり、病院受診は規制され、高齢者や持病者以外で疑いのある場合は自宅待機との指示でした。
5月、ロックダウン解除により受けることができたPCR検査は陰性、そのため姉は他の病気を疑い一般かかりつけ医を受診しましたが、その際出された診断がコロナ禍による精神的な病（思い込み症状）でした。またこの際、強力な痛み止めを処方されたようで、一時的に体調不良を感じなくなったと聞いています。
7月、肺の痛みが治まらない為、別の一般医で、肺スキャナーと希望していた乳がんのエコーとマンモグラフィを受診しました。肺スキャナーの結果はコロナの疑いにより再度PCR検査の指示と外出禁止。乳がん検査は悪性腫瘍はなしの診断でした。姉は自身で調べ、エコノミー症候群と肺血栓を疑っていたため、早急にPCR検査を受けられる一般医を探し、たまたま時間があいた一般医が診てくれることになりました。その医師は問診だけでコロナではないと、前回の肺スキャナーや乳がん検査結果を見直し、再PCR検査、血液検査、腹部エコー、胸の生体検査と進めてくれました。7月16日、そこでガン宣告を受けました。

本来の姉は活動的で健康な人です。30代でバレエを始め、年齢も気にせず週3回高校生に混ざりレッスンをし、仕事は好きなアンティークレースを勉強し、お店を立ち上げ息子を養っていました。そして、姉はまだ40代前半、離婚したばかりで息子と一緒に小さな部屋を借りて、人生を再スタートしたところでした。
告知をうけ国立がんセンター（キュリー研究所）を受診し、そのまま3週間の入院後、自宅へ戻り息子と生活し、体調がよい時は仕事をしていました。しかし、脳と目の転移により痛みと目が見えず起き上がれない日が増え、体重は30Kgまで落ち、現在は在宅入院となっています。

私はシングルマザーで、昨年から子供とマレーシア移住し現地採用で働いています。 現在、コロナの影響でマレーシア居住者のフランス入国は規制され、また、マレーシアもフランスからの入国を禁止しています。そのため、マレーシアの仕事を辞めない限り、私は姉に会うこともできない状況です。大使館や領事館にマレーシアからのフランス入国について何度も問い合わせをしましたが、返事はありませんでした。
フランスで新たに仕事を見つけビザを取得し、姉の看護をすることは現状の私では難しい状況です。仕事を辞めフランス入国すべきか、長期的な姉のサポートを考え、私は仕事を続けるべきてあるのか、また私自身の子供の生活も考えなければならず、結論を出せずにいます。
姉達の新しい部屋は未だ生活環境も十分ではなく、動けない姉の為に、両親と私で姉の必要品を購入するなどのサポートをしています。
また、先日の体調悪化による在宅入院を機に、現在、日本から母が緊急でフランス滞在し身の回りのサポートをしています。今後については、観光ビザで数週間のフランス滞在を何度かする考えではありますが、長距離の移動やコロナの影響、母の体力を考えるとどの程度続けられるかという懸念もあります。

姉の息子はまだ中学生でフランス国籍、養育は姉がしていますが、親権は父親にあります。姉は息子と生きるため、パリでガン治療を続けることを選択しています。息子と一緒に生きることが姉の希望です。ただフランスには姉を助ける家族がなく、友人の手を借りて一人で闘病しています。フランスはガン医療費が無料ですが、退院後一気に姉が衰弱してしまったことを考えると長期的に身の回りのサポートを個人で準備する必要があります。社会保障を受けられると聞き申請していますが、未だ回答はなく、いつからどのように介護サポートを受けられるかは不明です。姉は生きることを少しも諦めていませんが、病状は芳しくなく、働くことができない姉が看護士やケアワーカーを雇い、少しでも安全に生活できるようになることが願いです。
このままフランスでの闘病生活を続けることを選択した場合に具体的に人を雇う費用や息子との生活費などがどの程度必要なのかは、はっきり聞けていない状況です。
また、もし彼女が望んだ時や息子との生活が叶わなくなった時、姉を日本に連れ帰りたいと考えています。そのため、航空による特別救急には63,000ユーロ（800万円）が必要です。
年金生活者である両親や私のサポートだけでは限界があり、このような協力をお願いすることを姉と2人で決断しました。この選択が正しいのか、現在もわかりません。ただ少しでもご賛同いただけたら嬉しいです。今はそれが姉の命に繋がると信じています。

Misa Y