ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Widower wants some holiday joy for 7-year-old son

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

The pain that shoots down his legs from a back injury is not as bad as the hurt from his broken heart.

The 43-year-old single parent of a 7-year-old boy injured his back while pushing a car at work 12 years ago and has been unable to work since then. His biggest setback, however, occurred six years ago when his wife died.

"I can't replace her," J.A. said. "There are two kinds of hurt that can't be replaced. You can't replace losing something that means a lot to you, like a wife or child.

J.A., who once worked two jobs to make ends meet, is frustrated that he cannot financially provide for his son without public assistance.

"I can't do what I'm trained to do because I can't bend down," he said. "I feel a lot of hurt, anger and frustration. I went from something to nothing.

"But I'm happy to have place to live and a son in my life," J.A. added. "He's a really good boy. He knows that I can't afford anything."

J.A. doesn't need anything for himself but would like something special for his son. It doesn't have to be big or expensive.

"All I want is something that will make my son smile," J.A. said.

Donations to The Advertiser Christmas Fund

• Terry Mullin and Sharon Ritchie Mullin $400
• Terry Mullin and Sharon Ritchie Mullin 100
• In loving memory of Edwin C. Pendleton 100
• In memory of Alden and Vera Merrill 100
• Matt, Andy and Carly 250
• TRI ISLE INC. 250
• Guido and Toni Cherubini 200
• Lt. Cmdr. Linda E. Craugh, USN 200
• John F. and Mary D. Fitzgerald, Capt. USN Ret. 200
• Mozes and Maxx Mudd 200
• Micah to the Glory of God 100
• Capt. Conrad B. and Michiko H. Divis, USN 100
• Mary Louise and James E. Edington 100
• Richard J. Fall 100
• Jonathan and Ann Kirsch 100
• Jo Ann C. Kocher 100
• Raymond T. and Carolyn S. Kurosu 100
• Phuoc and Nhien Le 100
• Fred M. and Alice D. Lunt 100
• Yvette Yuen and Arthur James Maskrey 100
• Leslie Jack and "Hapa" 100
• Michael L. Mersberg 100
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Okada 100
• Tony Sellitto 100
• James T. and Doris Y. Tomita 100
• Yoshio Ueda and Amy T. Shinbo 100
• Kyle, Kathy, Kim, Kelsey 100
• Marion N. Vaught 100
• In loving memory of Capt. Gabriel Sr., Remedious, Marcos & Gabriel Jr. Garduque 100
• In loving memory of Marc J. Kawa 50
• In memory of Sister Pam 25
• In memory of Charles "Scrooge" Takahama 25
• In memory of Keiki Pang 25
• In memory of C.H. Young 30
• Alexander M. Morris 10
• Diane M. Choy 25
• Bruce H. and Denise F. Ellinwood 25
• Norma T. Fernandez 25
• Isaac Fishman 25
• James F. Gross 25
• Norma T. Herkes and Katherine J.H. Augustine 25
• Katherine J. Holloway 25
• Helen Y. Kam and Sheryl K. Uyematsu, Sandra K. Tanoue 25
• Hideko Kunichika 25
• Keith A. and Anita D. Larson 25
• John V. and Kyung Sam Lee 25
• Hanako and Lloyd A. Nakagawa 25
• Clifford K. and Edna K. Nishimura 25
• James E. Obreg 25
• Lucy Pang 25
• Windward Unity Uniteens 25
• Teaching as a Career and Book Club 25
• Walter P. Vierra 25
• Merv Young 25
• Bart Koza 30
• James S. Myers 30
• Katherine Kealoha Springer 30
• Kelly Kawakami 40
• On behalf of First Hawaiian Bank Corporate Communications Division 40
• Gary and Kelly Reed 40
• Roy and Christine Tabora 40
• Wally and Patty Garcia 40
• Anthony Vanatta 40
• Juno Galang Studio 40
• Anne and Rick Woods 40
• Donald C. Blaser 50
• John L. and Chizumi N. Gilbert 50
• Litheia W. Hall 50
• The Heanu 'Ohana 50
• The Nakagawas 50
• John W. and Karen Pape, Jennifer and Kyle 50
• Kathy E. Sears 50
• Maryknoll Grade School Faculty and Staff 57
• Maryknoll 8th Grade 12.50
• Anonymous 10
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• Anonymous 25
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Total $6,509.50

Total to date $46,256.86