First post:
May 25, 2016 Latest post:
May 30, 2016
Dear Family and Friends,
We created this website as a way to invite all of you to follow mom’s progress. As you would undoubtedly attest to, she is probably the toughest little lady you have ever known or met. She has chosen to fight her cancer by embarking on a journey to leave this world in a dignified and comfortable manner. For those of you not aware of mom’s fight, here is her story…
On January 19,, 2016 mom finally went to thehospital due to one-month duration of abdominal pain which radiated to herback. After a couple of days of work-up and biopsies, she was diagnosed withstage IV, pancreatic adenocarcinoma. We remained with mom in the hospital as the doctors and nurses workedhard to manage her symptoms especially the excruciating pain related to thecancer. By February 1, 2016 herpain was finally controlled; mom was uncertain of beginning chemotherapy thus,she opted to be discharged to hospice care in the comfort of her own home inCottage Grove, MN where she resides with Shawna, Tony and two grandsons Brayden(10) and Jayden(5). After a few weeks she decided to go forth with chemotherapydirected by Mayo Clinic oncologist with the understanding that it may affordher more time to watch her brand new grandaughters Kimi and Sachi (now 5 monthsold) grow and maybe even walk. Her oncologist was very compassionate and awonderful listener. He assured her at anytime that she would like todiscontinue her treatment she is free to do so. He could tell she is a fighterand wanted to provide her options to fulfill her wishes to live longer.
After three infusions, mom had enough. She was tired of being tired all of the time and she hated losing her hair. Mom’s weight was dropping drastically and the pain medications at the time had caused her to be extremely drowsy, disoriented. Meanwhile after an abdominal scan it was noted that her tumor had increased in size. Once this medication was discontinued mom was herself again.
At this point, she again decided to reenroll into hospice care. We were fortunate to receive our original team members who would visit out family almost everyday. To her surprise,one morning in April her brothers Uncle Russell, Uncle Radford, and our cousins Radford, Candis, and Reid appeared at her home. “Hachi (mom’s dog) is barking as someone is walking up the stairs to my living room then I see one person,then I realize it is Uncle Russ, then another person--Uncle Rad, then another and its Toong-toong, and then Candis, and Reid, I was in shock!” She had such a wonderful time with them during their stay in Minnesota. Her spirits were uplifted and in turn she was planning to fly to Hawaii on May 9th to surprise them. However, two days before her trip she rapidly declined. She became extremely sleepy and somewhat lethargic. However, she continued to communicate in few words.Although she had no appetite, she continued to drink juices and soups and ambulate a short distance. She continues to fight and chooses to approach the end of living in such a graceful way. Those of you who know our mom well will know she believes in the after-life and will be with us always. She would not want you to say good-bye;she would say “It’s not good-bye, it’s a hui hou until we meet again,” or “K-den, see you latah!”
Our mom is amazing, the most genuine, sincere,compassionate, intelligent, hilarious, tough woman you may ever come across.We are so proud to be her children and we know that her legacy lives on with us as well as her 9 grandchildren. We know that she holds a special place in each and every one of your lives and is forever a part of you. Thank you for loving her and supporting our family with your positive energy and prayers.
We will pray for mom’s continued comfort and may she no longer be in pain. Please feel free to write to us. We will try our best to keep you posted.
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