ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Couple's concerns include ailing son, making ends meet
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
"M.L." and his wife have sacrificed everything to save the life of their 20-month-old son.
Born two months premature, the boy was jaundiced at birth and diagnosed with biliary atresia, a condition that affects bile flow.
In May 2002, M.L. was advised by doctors to take leave from his full-time job to help his wife care for the boy, who required much medical attention, and his two other children. With their son's condition not improving, M.L. and his wife decided in February 2003 to have their son examined at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif.
The diagnosis was Alagille's syndrome, which affects the heart, liver, spine and brain. His wife and son stayed on the Mainland from February to August and returned in September for a transplant when a liver donor was found.
"There are no guarantees but he seems to be doing well," said M.L. of his son. "We'll know better by New Year's. It'll be the ultimate Christmas present if the news is good."
In 2002, M.L. and his wife had full-time jobs. Today, the couple is living at the poverty level and dependent on welfare assistance.
Their van may be repossessed soon and utility companies are threatening to cut off services for nonpayment of bills. "We're constantly juggling bills," M.L. said. "But we have the basics to live on. My wife and I don't purchase anything for ourselves and our clothes may be raggedy but our kids' clothes are OK."
M.L. and his wife plan to return to work when their son's health improves.
"Basically, our lives have been on hold," M.L. said. "When our son's condition is OK, we'll start over with our lives from the ground up. If he's all right, everything will have been worth it."
M.L. would like a bunk bed and swing set for his two daughters, ages 3 and 4.
Our anonymous Santa has generously offered once again this year to match the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund. Checks made payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" should be mailed to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817.
Monetary donations 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 440-3804.
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Recent Advertiser Christmas Fund donations
- Barbara and Kenneth Silva $20
- Lionel and Elizabeth Camara $25
- H&D Construction Number Two $25
- In Loving Memory of Patti Ann Carroll $25
- In Loving Memory of Peter James Kuenmar Loo $25
- In Memory of Grace & Frank Ahern $25
- In Memory of Richard Y. Arakaki and Tyler $25
- Lily Lau $25
- Patricia Leong $25
- George and Elmira Leong $25
- Paul McKimmy $25
- Fumiko Miyahira, Judy Ohira and June Doolin $25
- Laurel Murphy $25
- Hisao and Hannah Nakamura $25
- Thomas and Linda Randle $25
- Ronald Reddick $25
- Annabelle Runnels $25
- Yotsugi Sakata $25
- The C. Chings $25
- Joan and Terrence Yamamoto $25
- Nina Yang $25
- Marie McCabe $30
- James Rosenswike $35
- Steven Blyth $40
- Brian and Michelle Burdick $50
- Brian, Chani and Kayla $50
- In Memory of Chun Dai, George C.W. Chun,
- Raymond C.K. Chung $50
- In Memory of Clifford Chee $50
- In Memory of Derek Arita $50
- Leslie, Jack & Matt $50
- John and Aileen Nielsen $50
- Santa Carl and Scrooge Nelson $50
- T R Enterprise Inc. $50
- Nancy Bannick $100
- Griffin, Amy and Walker Bolan $100
- Gerry and Linda Byrne $100
- In Loving Memory of Popo Loui and Gung Gung Ho $100
- Robert Palma Designs dba Gem Registry & Identification $100
- Joan Souki $100
- The Nelson Kau Family $100
- The Nishimuras: Reyna, Jessica & Colin $100
- Michael Walsh $100
- Stanley Yamashita $100
- In Memory of Robert & Carolyn Choy $150
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $25
- Anonymous $30
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $100
- Anonymous $100
Total: $2,630
Total to date: $55,944.74
