ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Woman turning life around for family
By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
D.J., 44, doesn't take drugs or drink, but she suffers from mental illness, and that has made her life difficult.
She spent time in prison — twice — before she started learning about the nature of her illness, and understanding why she needed to cooperate with her doctors to control it.
"I'm schizophrenic," D.J. said. "My husband is bipolar. I started going through the books in the library, reading everything about it."
Once she understood why she needed to take her medications, she started doing it. Faithfully. She figured out that she needed problem-solving skills and took the steps she needed to gain them.
Her husband has left the family home and is working on managing his anger.
D.J. has made arrangements to start school in the spring, and some day hopes to turn the journal she's been keeping into a book about mental illness.
D.J. has improved her life so much that her children — a girl, 11, and a boy, 6, — have come back to live with her, and the state is looking at granting her permanent custody.
"I've learned that if you cooperate instead of fighting, you can get your kids back," she said. "You need to have clean rooms. You need to function and make sure the rent is paid. You need to take good care of your kids and make sure they go to school every day."
To donate, send checks payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817. Monetary donations also may be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch. Goods can be donated at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For details, call 440-3804.
D.J. said her daughter is a bright girl who wants to play volleyball for the University of Hawai'i and to someday become an actress. Her son is a very active little boy who wants to become more involved in sports.
HOW TO HELP
The family needs a table and chairs. Their case worker says eating meals at a table will help them to work on social skills. D.J. says meals are the times they bond as a family.
They also need twin sheets for the children's beds, and the children need school clothes.
The family is about to inherit a personal computer, and their case worker says that educational software would help the children excel in school.
Christmas Fund donations will be used for families who need help making it through the holidays. Any money remaining after the holidays will be used to help those in need throughout the year. For information on how to donate, see the "How to Help" box.
Our anonymous Santa is matching the first $25 of each donation to the Christmas Fund.
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Recent donations to The Advertiser Christmas Fund
- KIMI HOTELS, INC., dba Maui Seaside, Hilo Seaside, Kona Seaside $1,000.00
- Kauai Sands Hotel $500.00
- Kona Seaside, Inc. $500.00
- Raquel Chan-Ikeda & Alvin Ikeda $300.00
- John W. & Jennifer Hoffee $250.00
- In memory of Polly $200.00
- Akiko M. Yazawa $200.00
- Marie O. & Frederick S. Bertelmann $100.00
- M. G. Chillingworth $100.00
- Mary Louise & James E. Edington $100.00
- Larry B. & Yasuko Nakamoto $100.00
- Walter A. & Lenora Y. Oda $100.00
- Judy Q.U. Park $100.00
- Richard W. & Laura Y. Swanson $100.00
- Andy Yamaguchi & Cheryl Ernst $100.00
- Patrick T. & Tsungli K. Yu $100.00
- In memory of my great-grandson, Pomaikaiokalani Kamaka Sale Pulotu $60.00
- Vivian V. & Thomas D. Clark $50.00
- Virginia Fioramonti $50.00
- Nathan T. Nakamura $50.00
- Sherri L. & Martin
- D. Pruner $50.00
- From: "Andy's Kids": Mikey, R. Dingema & Cone Girl $30.00
- Alan Y. Hirayama $30.00
- Constance E. McQuillan $30.00
- Glenn T. & Jean A. Sakai $30.00
- In memory of Harry
- Y. Yoshida $25.00
- Ronald M. Hong $25.00
- In memory of Mrs. Misayo Miyata $25.00
- In memory of Ricardo T. Murakami $25.00
- Warren Y. & Sandra N. Jakahi $25.00
- Alan H. Kawamoto $25.00
- To the loving memory of my mother $25.00
- Anonymous $240.00
- Anonymous $150.00
- Anonymous $100.00
- Anonymous $100.00
- Anonymous $50.00
- Anonymous $25.00
- Anonymous $25.00
Total $5,095.00
Previous total $22,956.00
Total to date $28,051.00
