Advertiser Christmas Fund
Mother would like mattress pads for paralyzed sons
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Recent donations |
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By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
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The 58-year-old woman from Chuuk in Micronesia is the backbone of a household that also includes two children — ages 17 and 5 — and a young adopted granddaughter. M.N. is up by 5 a.m. daily and rarely goes to bed before 1 a.m. Her nightly sleep is often interrupted by her paralyzed sons' need to use the bathroom.
"I pick them up and they lean on me," she said of the nightly tasks that drain her strength. "Sometimes my back getting sore.
"I'm the only healthy one. But for last two months I don't feel good. I have boil by my stomach and maybe kidney stone."
M.N. would like two queen-size foam mattress pads for her sons to sleep on. The mattress foam would make moving around and shifting positions in the middle of the night much easier. Her sons sleep on a firm regular mattress that is uncomfortable for them. Any device that would allow her to slide rather than lift them off a bed or mattress also would be welcomed
How to make a donation
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Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to
Helping Hands Hawai'i
P.O. Box 19155
Honolulu, HI 96817
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Donations may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
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Anyone wishing to donate goods instead of money can do so at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway near Pu'uhale Street. For details, call 536-7234.
M.N. and her 58-year-old husband, a former high-school teacher in Micronesia, are renting a four-bedroom apartment in public housing. They receive $570 and $480 monthly welfare support for their sons, ages 28 and 21, in addition to Social Security Supplemental Income of $354 and food stamps. Her husband's monthly pension check of $380 is the family's only other source of income.
M.N., who has six other children — all living on their own — said her two sons became paralyzed after contracting a fever at about age 15.
"The younger one can talk now but cannot walk," she said. "The older one cannot talk or feed himself. We have to do everything for him."
Remember, once again, our generous anonymous Santa is matching the first $25 of each donation.
Recent donations
In memory of David Garliepp and Billy Gibson Garliepp $25
In memory of Florence Gonsalves 25
In memory of Mabel Soares 25
In memory of Seizo & Masako Gima 50
In memory of Balbino & Antonia Gamatero 100
In memory of Harold T.and Jon E. K. Tengan 100
Christa Braun 10
Marilyn Haraguchi 10
Masaru Higa 25
Amy H. Yuen 25
Francis K. Kawahara 25
Calvin T. Yamamoto 25
E & M Ho 25
Florence Y. F. Hee 25
Kiyoko Nomura 25
June S. Dant 25
Sai Wun Roig 50
Geraldine R. Anderson 50
Jessica Boone 50
Mrs. L. B. Hall 50
Randall T. Joyo 50
Moulton's 50
Emma Candon 66
Kapunahala Elementary School First Grade Students 75
Kimei Kamitaki 100
Reyna, Jessica, and Caitlin 100
Lei Rummel 100
Ke'ano Bruhn 100
Mr. & Mrs. Chang Ik Oh, John Q. Oh, Peter C. H. Oh, and Esther Oh 100
David H. Kim, M.D. 100
Jeana Bacon 100
Ross & Mari 200
Dr. Frank and Ernestine Tabrah 200
Montessori Community School 276
H. Hanamoto & Family 500
Michael T. and Pamela S. Jones 500
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 25
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 50
Anonymous 200
Anonymous 200
Anonymous 300
Total $4,287
Total to date: $96,983.30
Previous stories
• Saturday, Dec. 22: Single mother needs stroller
• Friday, Dec. 21: Disabled man needs clothes, pots
• Thursday, Dec. 20: Couple with three young children seek house to rent, clothes for kids
• Wednesday, Dec. 19: Diabetic needs help with medication costs
• Tuesday, Dec. 18: King-size bed tops couple's wish list
• Monday, Dec. 17: Disabled man seeks way to beat heat
• Sunday, Dec. 16: Ex-con beachboy raising daughter
• Saturday, Dec. 15: Crowded studio houses teen mom, relatives
• Friday, Dec. 14: New bed is priority for family of four
• Thursday, Dec. 13: Mother of three wants job to keep family from being homeless again
• Wednesday, Dec. 12: Electric fan, microwave will help
• Tuesday, Dec. 11: Vacuum sought for home of ailing child
• Monday, Dec. 10: Household with seven children needs new refrigerator
• Sunday, Dec. 9: Family lives in shed, seeks clothing
• Saturday, Dec. 8: Children need bedroom furniture
• Friday, Dec. 7: Stroke patient needs friend to get to therapy
• Thursday, Dec. 6: Shriners patient needs shoes, transportation to appointments
• Wednesday, Dec. 5: Clothing for sons welcome
• Tuesday, Dec. 4: Ex-addict, abused wife reclaims life
• Monday, Dec. 3: Disabled man seeks toy for grandson
• Sunday, Dec. 2: Ailing son left family buried in bills
• Saturday, Dec. 1: Woman says seventh child is chance to be good parent
• Friday, Nov. 30: With its breadwinner laid off, family requests help for first time
• Thursday, Nov. 29: Pacific immigrants struggle to stay here
• Wednesday, Nov. 28: Couple forgo gifts, except for two keiki's
• Tuesday, Nov. 27: Child's grave needs headstone
• Monday, Nov. 26: Security officer, six children have to eat on floor
• Sunday, Nov. $25: Holiday assistance badly needed this year
