Our beloved dear friend, Miki, has been recently diagnosed and is undergoing treatment for cancer. During her treatment, Christopher has been her caretaker and has been by her side during this incredibly stressful ordeal.

Around the end of August, Christopher noticed a lump on Miki’s throat. After seeing her GP, it didn’t seem to get any smaller so she was referred to an oncologist to have a CT, PET/CT and eventually biopsy of the growth on her neck. Miki was given the heartbreaking diagnosis of squamous cell esophageal cancer which spread to her lymph nodes and into her brain. She is currently being treated at Sloan Kettering, a world class cancer treatment facility in New York.

Miki has already received 2 fractions of stereotactic radiation and a few weeks ago, she suffered a seizure. Fortunately, Christopher was there to call 911 and got her to the ER quickly. Her oncologist just informed them that her treatment will include immunotherapy upon her next chemo session in a couple weeks. Miki completed the 3rd/final stereotactic radiation on the 2 cancer masses in her brain less than a week after the seizure; the side effects from the chemo like loss of appetite, fatigue, difficulty sleeping and anxiety still pose a challenge for them.

As you can imagine, this has been extremely stressful for both Miki and Christopher . Cancer is never easy to deal with, but with your help we can make things a little less stressful and ease the financial burden of her struggle.

Miki has been unable to work since her diagnosis and will not be able to for some time. Christopher has been able to arrange with work to take time off to be her full time caregiver. Right now, they have no income. She’s not one to ask for help, so we are asking for her. While she recuperates, we are looking to assist with her full recovery by providing much-needed support to help pay her medical bills and day-to-day expenses.

How the money will be used:

Food: for anyone undergoing chemotherapy, appetite and eating are a struggle. Anyone who knows Miki knows what an important role food plays in her life. Now, with loss of appetite and weight, it’s even more critical. Miki’s appetite is precious during treatment, so she and Christopher are preparing delicious, healthy and nutritious meals and snacks tailored to her cravings.

Treatment: this type of treatment requires constant doctor visits, treatments, followups, evaluations, tests, injections, blood draws, and more pills than anyone would want to take, Miki in particular. In a generous assessment, the insurance provider, due likely to clerical entry errors and algorithmic limitations, have initially denied some treatments. Thankfully, staff at MSK have been there to facilitate appeals of these denials.

Quality of life: a wise doctor recently counseled Miki & Christopher that the treatment Miki is undergoing is only 5% of the picture; the other 95% is their lives. And while the staff at Brookdale(where radiation treatment was given) and MSK have been excellent, and in some ways have delved into that 95% beyond doctors’ expertises and specialties, doing things that bring joy to Miki’s life, as well as Christopher’s as her caregiver, is critical to maintaining a positive and fighting spirit.

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Some people know this about Miki, but many do not: she was made in NYC when her parents met here and fell in love; one as an exchange university student at BU who fell head over heels for the other who was rebelliously/surreptitiously a member of a traveling Japanese theater troupe doing pro-piece art at La Mama during the Vietnam war. Miki always felt that NYC was the place for her, part of her identity and her destiny.

I humbly ask you to share Miki’s story any contribution you’re able to provide would be deeply appreciated.

Thank you!