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Ever since my father passed away from cancer many years ago, and my family having faced financial hardships, my husband and I became the sole provider for the family. It has been a joy to be able to support mom and also my sister, who has been unable to work due to her on going health issues, but I must admit it has been so hard on my husband and I both mentally and physically for the past few years to keep all of us afloat..
On November 12th 2018, I got the call from my sister which turned my life completely upside down. Mom had collapsed and wasn’t able to get back up for over two hours. We rushed her to the ER and found a massive swelling from a brain tumor pressing on a nerve. This swelling disrupted her body’s left side function. Further testing revealed another mass in mom’s lung that turned out to be Stage 4 Lung Cancer, and this had metastasized up into her brain. I literally heard a gavel pound in my head and pleaded with God to save my mom. My mom, who had worked so hard to take care of her children, and my mom, who never gave up on me back when I was in a gang, strung out and almost died.
It breaks my heart to see my mom concerned more about being a burden to me and my husband rather than her own deteriorating health. Even after her fall, she told my sister to refraine from calling me for those two hours. It also pains me to see my husband sacrifice so much for my family while working two jobs and barely getting enough sleep. Still, he goes to work with a smile on his face every morning, and he never shows signs of being burdened. He then comes home to support me emotionally and puts forth every effort to keep me from breaking down.
Recently, I also lost a second job which helped pay for mom and sister’s apartment rent. Though now I am able to spend the much needed time helping mom with her medical appointments and preparing her strict daily dietary regiment, the loss of income has been substantual.
Mom has a medi-cal shared cost plan which takes 66% of her pension every month... It leaves her so very little to live with. Cancer has already robbed so much out of her life and it keeps shoving her spirits down.
So far she had a targeted one time radation procedure on her brain tumor which metastasized from her lung, and instead of chemo she has been put on Immunotherapy (Keytruda) infusion to treat her cancer. It is God true blessing that mom's mutation was PLD1 positive to be able to receive this treatment vs chemo therapy. We are extremely grateful for those cunning edge procedures from the brilliant medical professionals to provide alternative ways to cure cancer vs to the abrasive chemo therapy, at the same time the costs of those treatments are enormous and eats up 100% of mom's medi-cal shared cost.
With 66% less of mom's pension, accumulating unforeseen expenses relating to her cancer, and the loss of my second job, paying thousands of dollars every month for the shared cost and their apartment rent, ... on top of all the bills we already have... The lives have becoming so very hard for my husband and I. We literally have been relying on massive amount of caffeine to keep going.
So we finally decided to reach out to all of you through GoFundMe. We humbly ask you to please help us.. My husband and I never felt comfortable asking people to help. Therefore we have managed keeping the roof over my family for many years. We no longer can do it alone...
Our main concern is the bills.
The share of cost and their rent alone is $3252 per month, and this amount does not include any other expenses at all. We are to pay the shared cost every month she needs any medical attention including infusions, doctor's visits, rehabilitations... this is the bare minimum amount that we must make, over all of our cost of living every month now...
If we can meet this amount per month, which is miraculous, any extra will go towards her dream. Her dream that gives her The Will To Live.
My mom is an associate professor of Chado, the authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony that teaches peace, respect, tranquility and purity. She moved to the US after the March 2011 tsunami that took thousands of lives in Japan, and her wish is to spread Zen, through Chado, to her friends of the West. She was the happiest while teaching Chado to her students, and during her three week stay at Cedars, she kept talking about how she was going to get better so that she may share the peace achieved through Chado. Every time she talks about this, her wilted body becomes animated, and her sunken face comes alive with anticipation and smiles!
This is when we came up with the concept of the "Quiet Room". "Quiet Room" is an oasis for hard working people and people, people with cancer... to come recharge themselves by visiting the ancient world of the East and let go of all worldly thoughts and stress, as they experience peace, respect, tranquillity and purity in a small Chashitsu (The Tea room).
Mom has always been eager to give back many times what she receives…. This opportunity is exactly that! This could possibly benefit thousands of people, and give her the will to beat her stage 4 cancer. This is to become her beautiful legacy that I wish to help carry out.
As I mentioned above she has already gone through the radiation procedure to combat her brain tumor/metastases. The MRI showed promising results, but the fight is not over. Corticosteroids and anti-seizure medicine has compromised the ability for her to walk properly, but she keeps showing signs that she will not give up the fight! Our continued prayers and her strong Will To Live is what will help her beat this evil disease.
She is an 82 year young trooper, and with the help of God, family and friends like all of you, she has faith that she will beat this cancer.
There will never be enough words to thank you all. I love my mom, and this is my genuine plea. She never gave up on me, and I will not give up on her or her dream...Thank you for reading!!
Watch my mother perform the tea ceremony here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UgZW3efwsDg&feature=youtu.be
On November 12th 2018, I got the call from my sister which turned my life completely upside down. Mom had collapsed and wasn’t able to get back up for over two hours. We rushed her to the ER and found a massive swelling from a brain tumor pressing on a nerve. This swelling disrupted her body’s left side function. Further testing revealed another mass in mom’s lung that turned out to be Stage 4 Lung Cancer, and this had metastasized up into her brain. I literally heard a gavel pound in my head and pleaded with God to save my mom. My mom, who had worked so hard to take care of her children, and my mom, who never gave up on me back when I was in a gang, strung out and almost died.
It breaks my heart to see my mom concerned more about being a burden to me and my husband rather than her own deteriorating health. Even after her fall, she told my sister to refraine from calling me for those two hours. It also pains me to see my husband sacrifice so much for my family while working two jobs and barely getting enough sleep. Still, he goes to work with a smile on his face every morning, and he never shows signs of being burdened. He then comes home to support me emotionally and puts forth every effort to keep me from breaking down.
Recently, I also lost a second job which helped pay for mom and sister’s apartment rent. Though now I am able to spend the much needed time helping mom with her medical appointments and preparing her strict daily dietary regiment, the loss of income has been substantual.
Mom has a medi-cal shared cost plan which takes 66% of her pension every month... It leaves her so very little to live with. Cancer has already robbed so much out of her life and it keeps shoving her spirits down.
So far she had a targeted one time radation procedure on her brain tumor which metastasized from her lung, and instead of chemo she has been put on Immunotherapy (Keytruda) infusion to treat her cancer. It is God true blessing that mom's mutation was PLD1 positive to be able to receive this treatment vs chemo therapy. We are extremely grateful for those cunning edge procedures from the brilliant medical professionals to provide alternative ways to cure cancer vs to the abrasive chemo therapy, at the same time the costs of those treatments are enormous and eats up 100% of mom's medi-cal shared cost.
With 66% less of mom's pension, accumulating unforeseen expenses relating to her cancer, and the loss of my second job, paying thousands of dollars every month for the shared cost and their apartment rent, ... on top of all the bills we already have... The lives have becoming so very hard for my husband and I. We literally have been relying on massive amount of caffeine to keep going.
So we finally decided to reach out to all of you through GoFundMe. We humbly ask you to please help us.. My husband and I never felt comfortable asking people to help. Therefore we have managed keeping the roof over my family for many years. We no longer can do it alone...
Our main concern is the bills.
The share of cost and their rent alone is $3252 per month, and this amount does not include any other expenses at all. We are to pay the shared cost every month she needs any medical attention including infusions, doctor's visits, rehabilitations... this is the bare minimum amount that we must make, over all of our cost of living every month now...
If we can meet this amount per month, which is miraculous, any extra will go towards her dream. Her dream that gives her The Will To Live.
My mom is an associate professor of Chado, the authentic Japanese Tea Ceremony that teaches peace, respect, tranquility and purity. She moved to the US after the March 2011 tsunami that took thousands of lives in Japan, and her wish is to spread Zen, through Chado, to her friends of the West. She was the happiest while teaching Chado to her students, and during her three week stay at Cedars, she kept talking about how she was going to get better so that she may share the peace achieved through Chado. Every time she talks about this, her wilted body becomes animated, and her sunken face comes alive with anticipation and smiles!
This is when we came up with the concept of the "Quiet Room". "Quiet Room" is an oasis for hard working people and people, people with cancer... to come recharge themselves by visiting the ancient world of the East and let go of all worldly thoughts and stress, as they experience peace, respect, tranquillity and purity in a small Chashitsu (The Tea room).
Mom has always been eager to give back many times what she receives…. This opportunity is exactly that! This could possibly benefit thousands of people, and give her the will to beat her stage 4 cancer. This is to become her beautiful legacy that I wish to help carry out.
As I mentioned above she has already gone through the radiation procedure to combat her brain tumor/metastases. The MRI showed promising results, but the fight is not over. Corticosteroids and anti-seizure medicine has compromised the ability for her to walk properly, but she keeps showing signs that she will not give up the fight! Our continued prayers and her strong Will To Live is what will help her beat this evil disease.
She is an 82 year young trooper, and with the help of God, family and friends like all of you, she has faith that she will beat this cancer.
There will never be enough words to thank you all. I love my mom, and this is my genuine plea. She never gave up on me, and I will not give up on her or her dream...Thank you for reading!!
Watch my mother perform the tea ceremony here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UgZW3efwsDg&feature=youtu.be
Organizer
