ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Recliner would help alleviate pain for diabetic
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Forty-eight-year-old "M.K." turned his life around in 1995, the same year his health started to deteriorate.
"He was heavy into drugs and was about to lose control of everything," said his wife, "R.K.," who lived with him for 17 years before they were married in 1997. "But he came back to the Lord. I had been praying for a long time for him to deal with his life."
The son of a Christian minister, M.K. became a tireless church volunteer after the turnaround. One minister remembers that M.K. distributed food from the Food Bank daily to the needy while others recalled his volunteer work as a mission cook.
• Our anonymous Santa will match the first $25 of all contributions. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has pledged to match and double cash donations. • Donations also may be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch. Anyone wishing to donate goods instead of money can do so at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For details, call 536-7234.
Today, M.K. is battling diabetes, kidney failure and heart complications.
• Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17328, Honolulu, HI 96817.
"He has nerve damage in his right hand and his arms and legs are weak," R.K. said. "As long as I can get him to walk, we can keep the circulation moving. We're constantly praying together that his hands and feet can function for as long as possible."
M.K., who has been going for dialysis treatment three times a week since June, lives with constant pain, his wife added. Getting off a chair or couch is very difficult for him, she said.
An orthopedic recliner with a massager would alleviate some of M.K.'s pain and stimulate his muscles.
"It would make his life more bearable," R.K. said.
