Miharu & Jon need help
Donation protected
Lifelong Rockland residents, Jon and Miharu need help!
Miharu was diagnosed with HER2 stage 4 breast cancer four years ago. She started immediate treatment at Mount Sinai and, even though it seemed all hope was lost, she made a miraculous recovery using a brand new treatment of Perjeta and Herceptin that had just passed clinical trials 2 days earlier.
Traveling to New York for treatment was torturous as she had many broken vertebrae as well as ribs and shoulder. That too was treated with a novel procedure, Kyphoplasty , that filled in the holes in her spine with a medical grade plastic, stabilizing the 10 broken vertebrae and easing much of the pain.
So, with the cancer in her body responding well to treatment, Jon and Miharu got into a routine traveling to New York City for infusions that would be every 3 weeks for life. There were many other special visits for multiple related problems and medical treatment consumed their life....still does. They could no longer work as medical care was their job now.
This disease has devastated them physically, emotionally and financially. Jon started driving Uber at night while Miharu slept and pet sitting in his home so that he could spend time taking care of Miharu. And make some money to live on. They own their home but still have to pay our high Rockland taxes. They have a rental apartment attached to their home which gave them some income. Unfortunately their house has been neglected as well as the apartment and they no longer have a tenant.
Unfortunately metastatic HER2 cancer often travels to the brain because the drugs do not pass thru to brain....and that’s what happened. She has had 3 brain surgeries the past 7 months in addition to original tumor removal last year plus multiple brain radiations. Jon really can’t leave her alone for long periods. Brain recovery is tricky and she can no longer read and gets confused sometimes.
In addition to financial support, we have been working to try to make the apartment rentable so they can regain a source of income as they have zero income at this point. We’ve been putting things out for trash, painting, fixing plumbing, cleaning etc. The most urgent needs include funds for chimney/roof repair (leaking since a windstorm last winter), a small refrigerator ($400) and gas oven($500) to make apartment rentable, and steam cleaning of 2 rooms carpet ($120).
Also Needed: Volunteers with truck to move old paints, gas etc from basement to Hazardous Waste facility in Pomona. Any handy person that can help with home repairs. Volunteers to carry heavy boxes to road for recycling. (Maybe older Scouts?) Volunteers to weed and do yard work. There’s so much that just needs to be cleaned up! Gift cards to Shoprite, Stop N Shop or gas would also be so very appreciated.
Thank you for any help you may be able to offer!
Miharu was diagnosed with HER2 stage 4 breast cancer four years ago. She started immediate treatment at Mount Sinai and, even though it seemed all hope was lost, she made a miraculous recovery using a brand new treatment of Perjeta and Herceptin that had just passed clinical trials 2 days earlier.
Traveling to New York for treatment was torturous as she had many broken vertebrae as well as ribs and shoulder. That too was treated with a novel procedure, Kyphoplasty , that filled in the holes in her spine with a medical grade plastic, stabilizing the 10 broken vertebrae and easing much of the pain.
So, with the cancer in her body responding well to treatment, Jon and Miharu got into a routine traveling to New York City for infusions that would be every 3 weeks for life. There were many other special visits for multiple related problems and medical treatment consumed their life....still does. They could no longer work as medical care was their job now.
This disease has devastated them physically, emotionally and financially. Jon started driving Uber at night while Miharu slept and pet sitting in his home so that he could spend time taking care of Miharu. And make some money to live on. They own their home but still have to pay our high Rockland taxes. They have a rental apartment attached to their home which gave them some income. Unfortunately their house has been neglected as well as the apartment and they no longer have a tenant.
Unfortunately metastatic HER2 cancer often travels to the brain because the drugs do not pass thru to brain....and that’s what happened. She has had 3 brain surgeries the past 7 months in addition to original tumor removal last year plus multiple brain radiations. Jon really can’t leave her alone for long periods. Brain recovery is tricky and she can no longer read and gets confused sometimes.
In addition to financial support, we have been working to try to make the apartment rentable so they can regain a source of income as they have zero income at this point. We’ve been putting things out for trash, painting, fixing plumbing, cleaning etc. The most urgent needs include funds for chimney/roof repair (leaking since a windstorm last winter), a small refrigerator ($400) and gas oven($500) to make apartment rentable, and steam cleaning of 2 rooms carpet ($120).
Also Needed: Volunteers with truck to move old paints, gas etc from basement to Hazardous Waste facility in Pomona. Any handy person that can help with home repairs. Volunteers to carry heavy boxes to road for recycling. (Maybe older Scouts?) Volunteers to weed and do yard work. There’s so much that just needs to be cleaned up! Gift cards to Shoprite, Stop N Shop or gas would also be so very appreciated.
Thank you for any help you may be able to offer!
Organizer and beneficiary
Hildee Ryan
Organizer
New City, NY
Jon Pike
Beneficiary
