Celebration of life

Iris passed away peacefully, in the company of her family & friends, at approximately 10:16pm on February 17, 2009. Yesterday (Feb 21), her family held her celebration of life at Hakone Garden in Saratoga. There were a lot of people from work, friends and family members. I knew she had a long way to fight against cancer but I didn't think this was her time.

Her husband said to me, "Iris wants you to know that you shouldn't be scared because of what happened to her. Her cancer was very aggressive and it shouldn't happen to you."

It immediately made me cry when I imagined what was going on in her mind. She was incredibly courageous and touched many people's lives. She loved yellow rubber duckies. Every time I see them, I will think of her.

I believe one's life is valued by how it will be remembered. She will be truly remembered by all of us as the most courageous and loving woman.

Hair appt

I had my first hair appt. the REAL one! I got tired of the black, so I had few highlights. (kinda hard to see in this picture) She thinned and trimmed it. I like it!

Since my hair grows sooooooo slow, I have plenty of time to enjoy this short hair.

We will meet again.

(This is Minori and me last year. She was 1 year old.)

I grew up in Christian girls school in Kyoto from 7th grade. We had 20 minutes service every morning. I used to fall asleep and my teacher touched/hit my head with his bible to wake me up.

Although my family wasn't Christian, things I learned from everyday service are always important foundation to me. I started going to the Methodist church in San Jose about 6 years ago. Our church has both English and Japanese worships. I can go either or both.

My minister, Rev. Michi, is from my school, Doshisha University. He graduated 2 years before me. I was very comfortable in our church with his sermon, because the way he does his service was how I grew up.

He baptized me 2 years ago on Christmas day. He helped me so much during my cancer treatment. Every time I was in the hospital, he came and gave me a prayer. He came over to my place to check up on me and sent me many cards with meaningful messages. I can't thank him enough for giving me strength and courage.

After finishing 6 and half years of ministry in San Jose, he and his family(wife Naoko and daughter Minori) decided to go back to Japan and start a new ministry in Kamakura-city. My tears kept coming down like a waterfall from the beginning of his last sermon. I couldn't even look at him. I cried because I was sad, but also very grateful that I met him.

"God Be with You till We Meet Again" (UMH #672)
http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh672.sht

God will be always with us no matter where we live. I don't know when we can see each other again, but we will!

I need lots of prayers.

I met Iris through my oncologist office in July 2008. She just finished with lumpectomy surgery and was about to start chemotherapy. We became cancer buddies right away. Although we thought we were going to go through this together and support each other, the reality took us to the different direction than we expected. Right before she was going to start chemotherapy in August 2008, she was told that cancer has spread to lymph nodes on the right side of her neck. She was reclassified to stage IV from stage II. With that, chemotherapy was to control cancer rather than to cure, as long as the cancer cells would respond to it.

She is one of the most caring and kind person I've ever met in my life. She always asks me how I'm doing even when she is not feeling good. Her husband is such a great person as well. They have a daughter who is 17 months old. They are strong beautiful family.

In December, despite of chemotherapy she's been doing for several months, they found the cancer spread to her brain. She decided to go with alternative medicine from that point.

Last week, she had a brain surgery. Initially (in December)the cancer in her brain was not operable, but it got bigger and affected her various abilities. The surgery was successful. She is recovering very quickly. However, brain surgery only took care of a visible tumor. She has to fight against invisible ones in her system.

All last week, I prayed God for helping her and her family to get through this tough time. I constantly think about her, then ask myself what I can do. I can't physically go see her every day, but I can pray for her every day. It hurts me when I think about her frustration and pain.

She believes in the ablitities of her body and decided to continue her alternative medicine. She is unbelievably amazingly strong. I need your prayers and well-wishes, because she deserves it.

Osaka Castle

Osaka is known as a business town, however, among many tall buildings, there are old buildings such as shrines and temples. Osaka castle is one of them. They built a very modern museum inside the main tower. I haven't been there since I was in grammar school for field trip. I remember old squeaky steep stairs and tatami room inside.

http://www.osakacastle.net/english/index.html

This is also a fun place to visit in Osaka.