Visiting Lisa

Monday, November 24, 2008

Divina, Chase, and I visited Lisa Yamaguchi this afternoon at her Pearl City home. Diagnosed a couple of years ago, Lisa is now fully dependent on a ventilator and feeding tube. Her mother and father are her primary caregivers in their home. My dad always held a special place in his heart for Lisa, as did she for him. I haven't been able to visit her since after my dad passed last year, so this visit was long overdue. Though I spent much of the time chasing Chase around their house, it was so nice to be able to talk to Lisa's parents, and most of all, to be able to talk to Lisa and be there for her during this difficult time.

Lisa's mom Jane spells out her words for her by watching Lisa's eyes, as she moves her eyes up for "yes" and to the side for "no". She told us about her recent outing to see Cirque du Soleil and her future plans to go for a drive around the island and take a dip in the ocean. She is really looking forward to seeing her niece graduate from high school this spring. She joked about her "expectant belly", and though she couldn't smile, she let us know that she was smiling inside.

Before we left, we held hands and listened to Na Leo Pilimehana's "Friends" song. Here we are pictured with Lisa and her mom Jane. I've also included a picture of Lisa with her friends, from one of her fundraisers she had a couple of years ago. A former preschool teacher, Lisa is a dear friend with a kind heart. You can tell from the photos and letters that decorate her room, Lisa is well-loved by many friends and family members. We hope a few people will be able to Christmas carol to Lisa's home this year.

You can copy and paste the link below to see a website some of her friends set up in 2006.
http://lisa.oceanit.com/mambo454/index.php

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving. Give thanks for good health, family, and friends. Remember to surround yourselves with loved ones during this holiday season.